
ass M 1,7 



a 



Book 



^z 



JJ 



BS4 



S M ITH S O N IAN 1 ) E P( ) S IT. 



J 

IRVING'S 



CATECHISM 

OF THE 

CONTAINING 

THE MOST STRIKING EVENTS 

FROM THE 

Earliest f mofo to % p*Mit! ®imt 



SEVENTH AMERICAN EDITION, REVISED AND IMPROVED 

By M. J. KERNE Y, A.M. 

Author of Compendium of Ancient and Modern History, First Class 

Book of History, Catechism of the History of the United 

States, Columbian Arithmetic, <&c. dc. <£c. 



Straptetj to tf)e ®tee of .Schools in fyz 2Emtefc State*. 



- 

BALTIMORE: 

PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY J. MURPHY & CO, 

178 MARKET STREET. 
PITTSBURG. ..GEORGE QUIGLEY. 

Sold by Booksellers generally throughout'the United States. 
1854. 



4>7<Ti 



3fA3X 

f&5 



Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by 

JOHN MURPHY & CO. 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maryland. 



f 



LIBRARY I 
ONGRESS J 

HINGTON 1 



THE 

Of CON 



WASHINGTON 



PREFACE. 

The long established reputation of Irving' s Cate- 
chisms precludes the necessity of adding any com- 
ments on their merits. The very extensive circula- 
tion which they have had, not only in England, but 
also in this country, is the best proof of their utility. 
The plan of his works is the very best that could be 
adopted. The catechetical form of instruction is 
now admitted, by the most experienced teachers, to 
be the best adapted to the nature and capacity of 
youth ; — a system by which children will acquire a 
knowledge of a science in less time than by any 
other. 

The present number, which is devoted to the His- 
tory of England, is peculiarly adapted to that class 
of learners for which it is intended. It comprises, 
in a few words, the most important events in the 
English history, from a period prior to the invasion 
of the Romans to the present time. The arrange- 
ment and the style of the work is well adapted to 
the capacity of children. The present edition has 
been carefully revised and corrected ; every thing 
of sectarian nature has been removed, and those 
passages, which were found to reflect upon the 
American character and institutions, have been 
erased. 

Baltimore, July, 1854. 



CONTENTS. 



BOOK I. 

From the Invasion of Julius Ccesar, fifty five years "before 

Christ, to the arrival of the Saxons, A. D. 449. 

CHAP* PAGE 

I. Of the Ancient Britons . 7 

II. The Religion and Government of the Ancient Bri- 
tons.. , 9 

III. The Roman Invasion , 11 

IV. Britain, a Roman Province 13 

V. The Departure of the Romans 14 

BOOK II. 

From the Arrival of the Saxons to the Norman Conquest, 
A. D. 1066. 

I. The Saxon Heptarchy ........,..*„..., 16 

II. The Kingdom of England founded by Egbert, 827. 18 

III. Alfred the Great, 871-901 19 

IV. The Saxon Monarchy till the Danish Conquest, 1014. 21 
V. The Establishment of the Danish Power in Eng- 
land , 23 

VI. The Saxon Line restored 25 

BOOK III. 

From the Norman Conquest to the Accession of Henry IV., 
A. D. 1399, 

I. William the Conqueror, 1066-1087 27 

II. William II.— Henry I.— Stephen, 1087-1155 29 

III. House of Plantagenet.— Henry IL, 1155-1190. 32 

IV. Richard I., 1190-1198- 34 

V. John, 1199-1215 35 

VI. Henry III., 1215-1272 „... 37 

VII. Edward I., 1272-1307 38 

VIII. Edward IL, 1307-1327 40 

IX. Edward III., 1327-1377 41 

X. Richard IL, 1377-1399 42 

1* 5 



b CONTENTS. 

BOOK IV. 
From the Accession of Henry IV., to the Accession of Henry 
VIL, A. D. 1485. 

I. House of Lancaster. — Henry IV., 1369-1413, 45 

II. Henry V., 1413-1422 46 

III. Henry VI., 1422-1471 48 

rV. House of York.— Edward IV., 1461-1483 50 

V. Edward V., 1483 52 

VI. Richard III., 1483-1484 53 

BOOK. V. 

From the Accession of Henry VIL, to the Beheading of 

Charles I., A. D. 1649. 

I. House of Tudor.— Henry VIL, 1485-1509 55 

II. Henry VIIL, 1509-1547 57 

III. Edward VI., 1547-1553 59 

IV. Mary, 1553-1558 60 

V. Elizabeth, 1558-1603 62 

VI. House of Stuart.— James L, 1603-1625 64 

VIL Charles I., 1625-1649 ,. QQ 

BOOK VI. 
From the Formation of the Commonwealth to the Accession 
of the House of Brunswick, A. D. 1714. 
I. The Commonwealth.— Oliver Cromwell, Pro- 
tector, 1654-1658 , 68 

II. Charles II., 1661-1685 70 

III. James II., 1685-1688 71 

IV. William and Mary, 1688-1702 73 

V. Anne, 1702-1714 74 

BOOK VIL 

From the Accession of the House of Brunswick to the pre- 
sent time. 

I. House of Brunswick. — George L, 1714-1727... 76 

II. George II., 1727-1760 78 

III. George III 80 

IV. George IV 89 

V. William IV., and Queen Victoria 90 

1* 



CATECHISM 

OP THE 



)irim$ af fuglautr. 



BOOK I. 



FROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS CAESAR, FIFTY 
FIVE YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, TO THE ARRIVAL 
OF THE SAXONS, A. D. 449. 



CHAPTEK I. 

Of the Ancient Britons. 

Q. What was the origin of the first inhabitants 
of England ? 

A. England appears to have been settled by a 
race of people from the opposite coasts of Gaul, 
about 1000 years before the Christian era. 

Q. What name was given to the country ? 

A- The first name of this island was Albion, so 
called from its white cliffs ; and afterward Britain, 
from a Celtic word denoting separation. 

T. Describe the persons of the ancient Britons. 

P. The ancient Britons were remarkable for 

7 



8 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 

their size and strength, and for the fairness of 
their complexions. They stained their skins with 
woad, which ma<Je them of a blue color, and drew 
upon their bodies the figures of different animals. 

Q. What was their general character ? 

A. The ancient Britons were acute, ingenious, 
valorous in war, and great lovers of liberty ; they 
were fond of feasting, and hospitality was one of 
their most shining virtues. 

Q. What was their dress ? 

A. The dress of the ancient Britons consisted of 
mantles made of skins, which covered the whole 
body, and their shoes were only a piece of the skin 
of a horse or cow. 

Q. What else do you observe of their persons ? 

A. The ancient Britons prided themselves on the 
length and beauty of their hair, which they per- 
mitted to flow upon their backs and shoulders, 
but they shaved all their beard, except upon the 
upper lip. 

T. Describe their habitations. 

P. In the earliest times, the Britons lived in 
<dens and caves in winter, and in summer in huts 
made of boughs and turf; but they afterward be- 
came more sociable, and enclosed a large circuit 
with fallen trees, within which they built their 
slight habitations. 

Q. What were their occupations ? 

A. The principal occupations of the Britons were 
Ihunting, pasturage, agriculture, and war. 

Q. What was their food ? 

A. The Britons for a long time lived on the pro- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 9 

duce of the chase, acorns, and other wild fruits, 
and their drink was only water ; but the Belgae 
introduced the practice of agriculture from Gaul ; 
so that at the time of the Roman invasion they 
had corn, herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep. 

T. Describe the method in which they took their 
meals. 

P. The ancient Britons had only two meals, 
breakfast and supper, at which they sat upon the 
ground, on hay, or on skins ; they used no knives 
or forks, but tore the meat with their teeth, and 
drank out of the horns of oxen or other animals. 



CHAPTER II. 



The Religion and Government of the ancient 
Britons. • 

Q. What was the religion of the ancient Britons ? 

A. The ancient Britons were idolaters ; they wor- 
shipped the sun, moon, &c, to which they sacrificed 
not only beasts, but the blood of captives ; they 
also believed in a Supreme Being, an evil demon, 
and the immortality of the soul. 

Q. Who were the ministers of religion among 
the Britons ? 

A. The priests of the ancient Britons were called 
Druids ; they were chosen from the best families, 
and enjoyed the highest honors and privileges. 



10 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What was their mode of life ? 

A. The Druids lived in woods, caves, and hollow 
trees ; their food was acorns and berries, and their 
drink water. They instructed youth in the prin- 
ciples of religion, as well as in astronomy, geometry, 
and natural philosophy. 

Q. What else do you observe of the religion of 
the Britons? 

A. The Britons never worshipped their gods un- 
der any roof, but in groves of oak, within which 
was a circular enclosure of large stones set per- 
pendicular in the earth. 

Q. What do you observe of their sacrifices ? 

A. They sacrificed human victims, which they 
burnt in large idols formed of wicker-work, and so 
capacious as to contain a number of persons, who 
were consumed together. 

Q. What was the form of government among the 
Britons ? 

A. The most ancient form of government was 
the patriarchal ; but when Britain was invaded by 
the Romans, it contained many independent states, 
each composed of several tribes or clans. 

Q. How were they governed in time of war ? 

A, Upon any dangerous emergency, or in time 
of war, a commander-in-chief was chosen by com- 
mon consent, and to him was intrusted the care 
of the general interest. 

Note. — A patriarchal government is that in which the 
fathers or heads of families direct and govern their children 
and other relations ; and this appears to have been the ear- 
liest mode of dominion, being founded on the natural au~ 
thority of the parent. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. N 11 

Q. What is remarkable of their mode of warfare? 

A. The ancient Britons chiefly fought on foot, 
with swords, battle axes, or spears, and used a 
shield for their defence ; they also used chariots, 
which had short scythes fastened to the end of 
the axle-trees, with which they mowed down the 
ranks of the enemy. 



CHAPTER III. 

The Roman Invasion. 



Q. What was the cause which led to the invasion 
of Britain by the Romans ? 

A. Julius Caesar, a Roman general, having con- 
quered the warlike nations of Gaul, became ambi- 
tious of adding Britain also to the Roman empire ; 
he therefore prepared to invade the island, under 
the pretext that the Britons had given assistance 
to his enemies in Gaul. 

T. Describe this expedition. 

P. Caesar set sail at midnight, and arrived in 
the morning on the coast of Britain, near Dover ; 
but seeing the cliffs covered with armed men, he 

Note. — The Romans, so called from Rome their capital, 
were a people in the south of Italy, who, by their discipline 
and valor, conquered all the neighbouring nations, and finally 
became masters of the then known world. But abandoning 
themselves to luxury and effeminacy, they were for a long 
time oppressed by tyrants, and their power was finally an- 
nihilated by the inroads of northern barbarians. 



12r HISTORY OF ENGLAND 

sailed as far as Deal, where he landed after con- 
siderable opposition. 

Q. What circumstance is worthy of remark at 
their landing ? 

A. The ships of Caesar not being able to come 
close to the shore, the soldiers hesitated to en- 
counter at once the waves and the brave natives, 
till induced by a standard-bearer, who cried aloud : 
" Follow me, fellow soldiers, unless you will be- 
tray the Roman eagle into the hands of the enemy ; 
for my part, I am determined to discharge my duty 
to Caesar and to Rome." 

Q. What was the result of this expedition ? 

A. The Britons, having fought several unsuccess- 
ful battles, were obliged to sue for peace, which 
Caesar granted them, and returned to Gaul. 

Q. Did Caesar again return to Britain ? 

A. The ensuing year Caesar returned with a nu- 
merous army, and although opposed by the na- 
tives, was successful in compelling them to pay 
tribute, and to give hostages. 

Q. To what cause is the easy progress of the Ro- 
mans ascribed ? 

A. At the time of the invasion, the Britons had 
chosen Cassibelan for their commander-in-chief; 
but some of the petty princes under his command, 
from suspicion or jealousy, withdrew their troops, 
while others submitted to Caesar; so that Cassi- 
belan was obliged to propose terms of peace. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 13 

f 

CHAPTER IV. 

Britain a Roman Province. 

Q. When did the Romans next invade Britain ? 

A. The tribute imposed by Caesar was never 
paid, and the Britons remained unmolested for 
nearly a century; when the emperor Claudius 
undertook and executed an expedition, but with 
little success, A. d. 42. 

Q/Who were most conspicuous in opposing the 
Romans? 

A. Those who made the greatest stand against 
the Romans were Caractacus, and Boadicea, the 
powerful queen of the Iceni ; but after opposing 
and harassing the Romans during nine years, the 
former was taken prisoner, and the latter entirely 
defeated. 

Q. Were the Romans ultimately successful ? 

A. The Romans finally reduced that part of the 
island called England into a province; but being 
unable to subdue the Caledonians, Picts and Scots, 
they built two famous walls, one, between the 
Friths of Clyde and Forth, and the other, between 
Tinmouth and the Sol way Frith. 

Note. — The observation of Caractacus, as lie was led in 
triumph through the streots of Rome, is very memorable. 
u How is it possible/' cried he, " that a people possessed of 
such magnificence at home, should envy Caractacus an hum- 
ble cottage in Britain." Boadicea, after her defeat, dis- 
dained to survive the liberties of her country, and put an 
end to her life by poison. 

2 



14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What advantages did the Britons derive from 
being conquered ? 

A. The famous Roman general Agricola took 
great pains to introduce into Britain the Roman 
arts, sciences, and agriculture; he taught the 
youth the Roman language and mode of warfare, 
and erected statues, temples, theatres, and other 
public edifices. 



CHAPTER V. 

The Departure of the Romans. 

Q. On what account did the Romans abandon 
Britain ? 

A. The Roman empire being overrun with bar- 
barians, the troops that occupied Britain were 
recalled, after the island had been subject to the 
Romans upwards of 500 years. 

Q. What took place after the departure of the 
Romans ? 

A. The Picts and Scots, finding the island finally 
deserted by the Romans, demolished the walls, 
and spread their ravages over the southern part 
of the island. 

Q. How did the Britons act in this emergency ? 

A. The Britons, having in vain applied to the 
Romans for assistance, at length agreed to call in 
two powerful Saxon chiefs, Hengist and Horsa, to 
defend them against the invaders. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 15 

Q. Who were the Saxons ? 

A. The Saxons were a warlike people inhabiting 
the north of Germany, where they had - rendered 
themselves formidable by their strength and valor. 

Q. What was the religion of the Saxons ? 

A. The Saxons, on their arrival in England and 
before their conversion to Christianity, were gross 
idolaters, worshipping a divinity called Odin, or 
Father of the Slain, who was represented by a 
great log of wood, raised perpendicularly in the 
open air. 

Q. What were the other Saxon divinities ? 

A. The days of the week derived their names 
from the principal idols of the Saxons, which were, 
the Sun ; the Moon ; Tuisco, the sun of the earth ; 
Wodin, or Odin, their supreme divinity already 
mentioned; Thor, the thunderer, or ruler of the 
air ; Frea, the wife of Odin, and goddess of love ; 
and Seater, the god of trade and husbandry. 



book n. 

FROM THE ARRIVAL OF THE SAXONS TO THE 
NORMAN CONQUEST, A. D. 1066. 






CHAPTER I. 

The Saxon Heptarchy. 

Q. What was the success of the Saxons on their 
arrival in Britain ? 

A. The Saxons on their arrival being joined by 
the British forces, marched against the Picts and 
Scots ; and, after having entirely defeated them, 
were rewarded with large possessions in the land 
which they had delivered. 

Q. What was their subsequent conduct ? 

A. The Saxons, finding Britain much more fer- 
tile and alluring than their own country, came 
over in great numbers ; and conscious of their su- 
perior valor, determined to conquer the country 
for themselves. 

Q. Were they finally successful ? 

A. After a violent struggle of nearly 150 years, 
the Saxons subdued the whole southern part of 
the island, except Wales and Cornwall, and esta- 
blished the seven kingdoms called the Saxon 
Heptarchy. 
16 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17 

Q. What were their names ? 

A. The kingdoms which composed the Saxon 
Heptarchy were Kent, Sussex, Wessex, EastAnglia, 
Mercia, Essex, and JSfortlmmberland. 

Q. Who were the most celebrated for their op- 
position to the Saxons ? 

A. The princes who made the noblest stand 
against the Saxons ; were Vortimer, Ambrosius, 
and the celebrated King Arthur, who was killed 
A.D. 546. 

Q. What was the effect of this conquest on the 
state of Britain ? 

A. By the conquest of the Saxons the whole 
southern part of the island, except Wales and 
Cornwall, changed its inhabitants, language, and 
customs; literature and the arts, which the Ro- 
mans had introduced, were extirpated, and dark- 
ness and desolation took their place. 

Q. How long did the Saxon Heptarchy continue ? 

A. Soon after the establishment of the Saxon 
Heptarchy, jealousies and dissensions arose among 
the Saxon chiefs ; and after above 200 years of 
almost continued warfare, the seven kingdoms fell 
under the power of Egbert, king of Wessex. 

Q. When and by whom was Christianity intro- 
duced into England ? 

A. Christianity was introduced at a very early 
period, but by whom it was first preached, is a 
matter of uncertainty. 

Q. When and. by whom was it finally established 
in the island ? 

A. About the close of the sixth century, by Saint 
2* 



18 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Augustine and forty companions, who were sent 
from Rome, by Pope Gregory the Great, to preach 
the gospel among the Britons. 



CHAPTER II. 



The Kingdom of England founded by Egbert, 
A. d. 827. 

Q. What was the character of Egbert ? 

A. Egbert was no less celebrated for his bravery, 
virtue, and talents, than for the prudence and 
imoderation with which he regulated his infant 
monarchy. 

Q. What are the most remarkable occurrenc 
in his reign ? 

A. In the reign of Egbert the Danes became 
formidable to England by their frequent invasions, 
and although routed several times with dreadful 
slaughter, still continued their irruptions. 

Q. In what manner were these expeditions con- 
ducted ? 

A. The Danes when they landed always avoided 
coming to a general engagement, but scattering 
themselves in small parties over the country, 
burned or carried off to their ships every thing 
that came in their way, such as goods, cattle, and 
women, so that the whole kingdom was kept in 
continual alarm. 



HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 19 

Q. Who succeeded Egbert? 

A. To Egbert succeeded his son Ethelwolf, who, 
possessing neither, the valor nor abilities of his 
father, was unablo to resist the renewed and more 
formidable irruptions of the Danes. 

Q. Who were the succeeding sovereigns ? 

A. The successors of Ethelwolf were Ethelbald, 
a very wicked prince, Ethelbert, and Ethelred. 

Q. What progress had the Danes by this time 
made in the kingdom ?' 

A. In the reign of Ethelbald the Danes first 
wintered in England, and in the time of Ethelred, 
notwithstanding the bravery of his brother Alfred, 
they gained possession of the sea coasts and the 
finest provinces of England. 



CHAPTER III. 

Alfred the Great, A. D. 871-901. 

Q. Under what circumstances did Alfred com- 
mence his reign ? 

A. Ethelred having fallen in opposing the Danes, 
Alfred succeeded at 22 years of age. When he 
ascended the throne he found his subjects inactive 
and dispirited, while the Danes had penetrated 
into the very heart of his dominions. 

Q. What was his conduct on coming to the 
throne? 



20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. Alfred having restored confidence among his 
subjects, harassed the Danes with such vigor, that 
they agreed to evacuate the kingdom ; but being 
reinforced, the English were compelled to submit, 
after various struggles, and Alfred was obliged to 
conceal himself in disguise. 

Q. Where did he conceal himself? 

A. He retired to Somersetshire and passed his 
time in the humble cottage of a herdsman, in the 
capacity of a servant. 

Q. How long did he remain inactive ? 

A. Alfred had been hardly a twelvemonth in his 
retreat, when he heard that the Earl of Devonshire 
had routed a party of Danes, and taken the famous 
reafen, or enchanted standard of the enemy. 

Q. How did Alfred then act ? 

A. Before Alfred assembled his subjects in arms, 
he entered the Danish camp in the disguise of a 
harper, and having observed their careless security, 
he* rejoined his followers, and leading them 
against the enemy, gained a complete victory. 

Q. What use did he make of his victory ? 

A. Alfred allowed the remainder of the Danes, 
who implored his clemency, to settle in East Anglia 
and Northumberland, on condition that Guthrun, 
the Danish chief, and his principal officers, should 
embrace Christianity, to which they submitted, 
and retired peaceably to their new possessions. 

Q. What were the consequences of this victory ? 

A. Alfred, having restored peace to his kingdom, 
began to repair the evils caused by the invaders. 

§. What measures did he adopt for this purpose ? 



HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 21 

A. Alfred divided the kingdom into shires, or 
counties, established a regular militia, and guarded 
the coasts with a powerful navy ; he established 
schools throughout his dominions, founded the 
University of Oxford, and established the mode 
of trial by jury. 

Q. What is related of the administration of 
justice during his reign ? 

A. He is said to have executed forty corrupt 
judges in one year ; and so just were the people 
that gold ornaments could be hung up in the pub- 
lic highway, and no one would touch them. 

Q. When did he die? 

A. Alfred died a. d. 901, in the 30th year of 
his reign. 

Q, What character is given of this prince ? 

A. Alfred may be considered as the greatest 
warrior, legislator, and scholar, of the age in 
which he lived : he died universally lamented, 
bearing with him the appellation of Great, which 
he merited as well by his talents as by his great 
virtues. 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Saocon Monarchy till the Danish Conquest. 
A. d. 1014. 

Q. Who succeeded Alfred the Great ? 
. A. Alfred was succeeded by his son Edward, who 
inherited the military genius of his father, and 



22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

suppressed the insurrections of the Danes and 
Northumbrians ; and after a reign of 24 years, he 
was succeeded by Athelstan, his natural son. 

Q. What do you observe of Athelstan ? 

A. In the early part of his reign Athelstan was 
engaged in successful wars with the Danes and 
Scots ; but he spent the remainder in peace, em- 
ploying his talents in the internal improvement 
of his kingdom. 

Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 

A. On the death of Athelstan, his brother Ed- 
mund ascended the throne, and distinguished him- 
self by his vigilance and sagacity; his reign, 
however, was but short, being killed by Leolf^ a 
robber, A. d. 946. 

Q. What are the most remarkable occurrences 
of the succeeding reign ? 

A. Edmund was succeeded by his brother Edred, 
who bravely crushed a rebellion of the Northum- 
brian Danes ; but, being of a weak constitution, he 
died after a reign of ten years. 

Q. What was the character of his successor ? 

A. Edwin, or Edwy, was a prince of a profligate 
character ; he died after an unsuccessful war with 
the Mercians, who had revolted against his autho- 
rity, A. d. 959. 

Q. What do you observe of king Edgar ? 

A. Edgar was only thirteen years of age when 

Note. — Athelstan gave great encouragement to commerce, 
and enacted a law, that a merchant who had made three long 
voyages on his own account, should be raised to the rank 
of a thane or nobleman. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 16 

he received the crown, but soon rendered himself 
formidable by a powerful army and navy ; his 
reign was very tranquil, and distinguished by the 
extirpation of wolves in England. 

Q. How did he effect this ? 

A. By offering a reward for each head, he pro- 
duced such diligence in the search of them, that 
the race soon disappeared. 

Q. Who succeeded Edgar ? 

A. Edgar was succeeded by his son Edward, 
surnamed the Martyr, from his having been mur- 
dered at the instigation of his step-mother Elfrida, 
to make room for her own son, Ethelred. 

Q. What is the character of Ethelred ? 

A. Ethelred, from his weakness and irresolution, 
acquired the surname of Unready. The Danes, 
taking advantage of his incapacity, renewed their 
depredations, and Ethelred fled to Normandy, leav- 
ing his dominions in the hands of the invaders. 

Q. Did Ethelred again return ? 

A. Yes, on the death of Sweyn, the Danish king, 
he again returned to England, and after an unfor- 
tunate reign of 35 years, he died and left the 
throne to his son Edmund, surnamed Ironside. 



CHAPTER V. 

The establishment of the Danish power in 
England. 

Q. What happened shortly before the death of 
Ethelred? 



24 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. Canute, the son of Sweyn, King of Denmark, 
with a powerful army, invaded England. 

Q. What did Edmund, the successor of Ethel- 
red, do ? 

A. Edmund distinguished himself by his forti- 
tude, prudence, and generosity; but his abilities 
and courage, though great, were unable to save his 
sinking country, and he was obliged to divide the 
kingdom with his Danish rival. 

Q. What was the manner of his death ? 

A. Soon after the division of the kingdom, Ed- 
mund was treacherously murdered at Oxford, and 
Canute was left in peaceable possession of the 
whole kingdom. 

Q. What do you remark of the reign of Canute ? 

A. Although the beginning of Canute's .reign 
was marked with severity and oppression, he after- 
wards acquired the confidence of the English 
people by his piety, and the impartiality of his 
administration : he died A. D. 1035, after a reign 
of 18 years. 

Q. What were the principal events of this reign ? 

A. Canute, assisted by a body of English troops, 
added Norway to his Danish dominions, and hav- 
ing compelled Malcolm, King of Scotland, to do 
him homage, became the most powerful monarch 
of his time, and was honored with the surname 
of Great. 

Q. Who was his successor ? 

A. Canute was succeeded on the English throne 
by his son Harold, of whom nothing memorable 
is recorded. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 25 

Q. Who next filled the throne ? 

A. The successor of Harold was Hardicanute, a 
degenerate prince, who lost the affections of his 
subjects by his cruelty, avarice, and intemperance, 
He died A. d. 1041, and was the last of the 
Danish kings. i 



CHAPTER VL 

The Saxon line restored. 

Q. Who succeeded Hardicanute ? 

A. Upon the death of Hardicanute, Edward, the 
son of Ethelred, was called to the throne by the 
universal consent of the nation. 

Q. What was his character ? 

A. Edward was distinguished for the mildness 
of his disposition, and for the practice of every 
Christian virtue. At his death his name was 
enrolled in the catalogue of the Saints, and he 
received the title of Confessor. 

Q. When did he die ? 

A. He died after a peaceful reign of 25 years, with- 
out leaving an heir to inherit the crown, A. D. 1065. 

Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 

A. Edward being dead, Harold, the son of Earl 
Goodwin, ascended the throne without opposition ) 
the voice of the people supported his claim, and 
he was crowned by the Archbishop of York the 
day after Edward's death. 

Note. — Earl Goodwin was a popular English noblemen of 
Saxon descent, and nearly allied to the royal family. He 
3 



26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What was the character of Harold ? 

A. Harold was a valiant, virtuous, and enterprising 
prince, who had acquired the love and confidence 
of the English by his justice and generosity; but 
he possessed only a short time the crown he was 
so worthy and able to bear. 

Q. By whom was he opposed ? 

A. Harold's right to the crown was contested by 
William, Duke of Normandy, who pretended that 
the kingdom had been bequeathed to him by Ed- 
ward the Confessor. 

Q. What was the issue of their rivalry ? 

A. While Harold was in the north routing the 
Norwegians, who had made a descent, William 
landed a powerful army of 60,000 men at Peven- 
sey, in Sussex; Harold hastened to oppose him, 
and in the battle of Hastings bravely fell in defence 
of his crown. This sanguinary battle lasted from 
daybreak till sunset, and the victory was disputed 
with equal bravery on both sides. At length the 
Normans, feigning a retreat, drew the English 
into the plain, and suddenly facing about, drove 
them back with great slaughter. They, however, 
maintained the contest with vigor, and the issue 
was still doubtful, when Harold was slain by an 
arrow while fighting on foot in the foremost ranks. 
The English, dispirited by the loss of their leader, 
gave way in every direction, while the victorious 
Normans retained possession of the field of battle. 

was the most powerful subject in the kingdom, and, with his 
son Harold, had the chief direction of affairs during the reign 
of the Confessor. 



BOOK in. 

FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE ACCESSION 
OF HENRY IV., A. D. 1399 



CHAPTER I. 

William the Conqueror, A. D. 1066-1087. 

Q. Who was William the Conqueror ? 

A. William, who after his accession to the Eng- 
lish throne, was called the Conqueror, was the 
natural son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, to 
whose title he succeeded, and early distinguished 
himself by his great abilities, both as a statesman 
and a warrior. 

Q. What followed his victory over Harold ? 

A. Immediately after the battle, William pro- 
ceeded by forced marches to London, and on his 
approach, Stigand, the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
with the chief nobility, entered his camp, and 
made him a formal offer of the crown, upon con- 
dition that he should govern according to the 
customs of the country. 

Q. When was he crowned ? 

A. William was crowned on Christmas day, 1066, 
in the presence of the principal nobility, and took 

27 



28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the usual oath to observe the laws of the realm, 
and to govern the people with moderation. 

Q. What do you observe of his reign ? 

-4. The beginning of William's reign was mild 
and humane, but a secret conspiracy having been 
formed in his absence for a general massacre of the 
Normans, he treated the English with the utmost 
rigor, divided almost all the lands among his fol- 
lowers, and established the curfew-bell. 

Q. What were the other occurrences of this reign ? 

A. William introduced the feudal system, and 
attempted to abolish the English language; he 
also caused the New Forest to be laid out, and 
Doomsday Book to be compiled. 

Q. What was the cause of his death ? 

A. William having gone over to Normandy to 
quell an insurrection of his sons, excited by the 
King of France, died at Mantis, from injuries he 
received by falling from his horse, in the 63d 
year of his age, and the 21st of his reign over 
England. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
William the Conqueror? 

A. During the reign of William I., France was 
governed by Philip I. ; Germany by Henry IV.; 
and Scotland by Malcolm III. and Donald VII. 

Note. — The Curfew, or Couvre-few, (cover-fire,) was a bell 
rung every night at eight o'clock, at which time the English 
had to extinguish their fires and candles. 

Doomsday Book is a register of all the lands in the king- 
dom, their proprietors, tenure, and value. It is still preserved 
in the Exchequer. 



HISTORY OF ENQLAND. 



29 



CHAPTER II. 

William II.— Henry I.— Stephen. 
A. D. 1087-1155. 

Q. By whom was William the Conqueror sue- 

ceeded • 

A. William the Conqueror was succeeded by his 
second son William, surnamed Rufus, from his 
red hair ; he was a brave and intrepid prince, but 
actuated by rapacity, ambition, and avarice. 

Q. What were the most remarkable events of his 

reign ? . 

A. William was engaged in perpetual wars with 
his rebellious subjects; he also purchased the 
duchy of Normandy from his elder brother 
Robert, repelled the invasions of the Welsh, and 
obliged Malcolm, King of Scotland, to do him 
homage. 

Q. What was the manner of his death ? 

A. As William was hunting in the New Forest, 
he was shot by an arrow discharged at a deer, 
which glanced from a tree and struck him to the 
heart, in the 40th year of his age, and the 13th 
of his reign, A. D. 1100. 

Q. Who next ascended the throne ? 

A. William having no sons, his brother Henry, 
who had been hunting with him at the time of his 
death, secured the royal treasure at Winchester, 
and hastened to London, where he was solemnly 
crowned three days after, although his elder bro- 
3* 



SO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ther, Robert, the rightful heir, was then returning 
from the Holy Land. 

Q. What did Henry do to render himself popular ? 

A. Henry gained the affections of his people by 
marrying Matilda, a descendant of their Saxon 
monarchs, and by granting them a charter, in 
which he restored many of their ancient laws and 
privileges. 

Q. What are the principal occurrences of his 
reign ? 

A. War ensued between Henry and Robert, 
which terminated unfavorably to the latter; he 
was defeated and taken prisoner by his brother, 
who confined him in a castle in Wales during the 
remainder of his life, which lasted 27 years. Henry 
afterward engaged in a successful war with France, 
but had the misfortune to lose his only son Wil- 
liam, who was drowned in his passage from that 
country. 

Q. What occasioned his death ? i 

A. Henry died in Normandy, from eating too 
plentifully of lampreys, in the 67th year of his 
age, and the 35th of his reign, having settled the 
succession npon his daughter Matilda, and her in- 
fant son Henry. 

Q. What was the character of Henry I. ? 

A. Henry, surnamed Beauclerk, or the scholar, 
from his progress in literature, was one of the 
greatest princes of his age, as well for his power, 
as for his prudence, bravery, and shining talents ; 
but his ungenerous and cruel conduct to his brother 
Robert is an indelible stain on his character. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 31 

Q. Who succeeded Henry I. ? 

A. On the death of Henry, the crown was seized 
by Stephen, Count of Blois, nephew to the late 
king, a nobleman of great ability and ambition. 

Q. By whom was he opposed ? 

JL Matilda, the daughter of Henry, soon landed 
in England, and found herself at 'the head of a 
powerful party; she therefore raised an army, 
which, under the command of her brother, the 
Earl of Gloucester, defeated the troops of Stephen 
and took him prisoner in A. D. 1141. 

Q. How did Matilda conduct herself in her ele- 
vation ? 

A. Matilda, being seated on the throne, treated 
the nobles and clergy with pride and disdain, and 
refused to re-establish the Saxon laws; upon 
which the standard of Stephen was erected, the 
queen obliged to fly, and the king again set at 
liberty. 

Q. How did this contest terminate ? 

A. Henry, the son of Matilda, invaded the 
country at the head of a powerful army, but an 
accommodation was effected, by which it was 
agreed that Stephen should enjoy the crown during 
his life, and that Henry should inherit the king- 
dom at his death. 

Q. How long did Stephen survive this transac- 
tion? 

A. Stephen enjoyed the erown in peace about a 

Note. — Matilda or Maud was first married to Henry V., 
Emperor of Germany, and afterwards to Geoffrey Plantaga- 
net, Earl of Anjou, by the latter of whom she had three sons. 



32 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

} r ear, and died at Canterbury, a. d. 1154, after a 
turbulent reign of 19 years. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. The contemporary sovereigns were Louis VI. 
and Louis VII., of France; Lothaire II., Conrad 
III., and Frederick L, of Germany; and Edgar, 
Alexander, and David, Kings of Scotland. 



CHAPTER III. 

HOUSE OP PLANTAGANET. 

Henry (lie Second, A. D. 1155-1190. 

Q. What were the first acts of Henry's admi- 
nistration ? 

A. Henry the Second began his reign by correct- 
ing the abuses that had crept into the government; 
he demolished the castles of the barons, dismissed, 
all the mercenary troops, gave charters to several 
towns, and enacted a rigorous execution of justice. 

Q. What were the dominions of this monarch ? 

A. Henry II., on his accession to the throne, was 
the most powerful sovereign in Europe ; besides 
the kingdom of England, he was master of above 
a third of the whole French monarchy, including 
Normandy, Brittany, Anjou, Guienne, Poictou, 
Maine, &c, and afterward added Ireland to his 
dominions ? 

Q. What was the cause of death ? 

A. Henry is said to have died of a broken heart, 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 33 

caused by the repeated rebellions of his sons. In 
his last moments he invoked the heaviest denun- 
ciations upon his ungrateful children. 

Q. What was the character of Henry ? 

A. He was one of the greatest monarchs of his 
age, and eminently distinguished for his wisdom 
and valor ; but his character was stained by rapa- 
city, perfidy, and cruelty. 

Q. How did he succeed in the subjugation of 
Ireland ? 

A. Taking advantage of the civil commotions of 
the country, he invaded the island under the pre- 
tence of reforming the morals of the people, and 
shielding them against the oppression of their 
rulers ; and by this refined policy he succeeded in 
breaking all opposition to his ambitious designs. 
He received the submission of most of the Irish 
chieftains, and, finally, that of Roderick 0' Connor, 
the last monarch of Ireland. 

Q. What is the most remarkable event in his 
reign ? 

A. Henry, by his tyranny and encroachments on 
the rights of the church, occasioned a controversy 
with Saint Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, 
who was finally murdered before the altar in his 
own church, by four knights of Henry's house- 
hold. 

Q. What followed? 

A. Some years after this event, Henry, to appease 
the divine wrath for his persecution of the Arch- 
bishop, went barefooted to the shrine of St. 
Thomas, and received a few stripes, with a knot- 



84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ted cord, upon bis shoulders, from the hands of 
the monks. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
Henry II. ? 

A. During the reign of Henry II., Frederick I. 
was Emperor of Germany; Louis VII., and Philip 
II., Kings of France; and David, Malcolm IV. 3 
and William, Kings of Scotland. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Richard the First, A. D. 1190-1199. 

Q. Who next ascended the throne ? 

A. Henry II. was succeeded by his eldest sur- 
viving son Richard, who, immediately on his coro- 
nation, undertook a crusade against the infidels, 
in which he signalized himself by his valor and 
heroism. 

Q. What were the crusades ? 

A. The crusades were expeditions undertaken 
by the Christian princes of Europe, in order to 
deliver Jerusalem and the Holy Land out of the 
hands of the Infidels, or Saracens. 

Q. -What happened to Richard on his return ? 

A. On his way home Richard was shipwrecked, 
and having assumed the disguise of a pilgrim, was 
arrested passing through Germany, and thrown 
into a dungeon ; from which, however, he was soon 
ransomed by his subjects. 

Q. What occasioned his death ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 35 

A. Richard received his death-wound while be- 
sieging one of his vassals in the castle of Chalons, 
in the 42d year of his age, and after a reign of ten 
years. 

Q. What was the character of Richard ? 

A. Richard possessed the highest military talents, 
and his intrepidity had acquired him the appella- 
tion of Coeur de Lion, or Lion-hearted ; although 
ambitious and haughty, he was open, generous, and 
sincere; and gained the affections of his subjects 
by his splendid victories. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. The sovereigns contemporary with Richard 
were, Henry VI. and Philip L, Emperors of Ger- 
many ; Philip II. of France ; Sancho I. of Portu- 
gal ; Canute V. of Denmark ; and William of 
Scotland. 



CHAPTER V. 
John, A. d. 1199-1215. 



Q. By whom was Richard succeeded ? 

A. Richard, having left no children, was suc- 
ceeded by his brother John, surnamed Sansterre, 
or Lack-Land. 

Q. What were the first acts of his reign ? 

A. After having subjected his revolted provinces 
in France, John murdered, with his own hand, 
his nephew Arthur, who was the lawful heir to 
the throne. 



36 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 

Q. What were the consequences of this horrid 
deed? 

A. The death of Arthur excited general horror 
and detestation of the tyrant ; the barons refused 
to grant him succors, and his continental dominions 
were confiscated by the King of France. 

T. Relate the other occurrences of this reign ? 

P. In consequence of the tyranny of the king, 
and his repeated encroachments on the rights of 
the church, the Pope laid the kingdom under an 
interdict, 

Q. What was the nature of an interdict ? 

A. While it remained in force, all external signs 
of religion were removed ; the altars were despoiled 
of their ornaments; the crosses, pictures, &c. 
were covered; the bells were removed from the 
churches ; the laity partook of no religious rites 
except baptism and communion to the dying ; the 
dead were not interred in consecrated ground, and 
marriage was celebrated in the church-yard. 

Q. What did John do ? 

A. John at length yielded his obstinacy, and, 
fearful of the invasion of the French monarch, he 
surrendered his crown to the Pope. 

Q. What subsequently took place ? 

A. His barons, unable to bear his cruelty and 
tyranny, with Lancton, the Primate, formed a 
confederacy against him. They met at Runnemede, 
and compelled him to sign the famous document 
of Magna Charta, by which important privileges 
were granted to every order of men in the king- 
dom. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 37 

Q. When did he die ? 

A. John died of a fever in 1215, after an odious 
reign of 18 years. 

Q. What was the character of John ? 

A. John was despised for his cowardice, and 
hated for his cruelty ; and his character has been 
justly held up to posterity, as a collection of almost 
every vice that can disgrace human nature. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
John? 

A. The contemporaries of John were the Popes 
Innocent III. and Honorius III. ; the Emperors 
Otho IV. and Frederick II., of Germany; King 
Philip II. of France ; and William, and Alexander 
II., of Scotland. 



CHAPTER VI. 
Henri/ the Third, A. 3D. 1216-1272. 

Q. Who was Henry III. ? 

A. Henry III. was the son of John, and being 
only nine years of age when he came to the thrfhe, 
the Earl of Pembroke was chosen protector of the 
realm. 

Q. What character is given of this prince ? 

A. Henry was gentle and humane, but without 
activity or vigor ; and as he grew up, he showed 
himself totally unfit to subdue the turbulence of 
his nobles. 

Q. What was his principal weakness ? 



38 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. The chief weakness of this monarch was his 
attachment to foreigners, which excited the barons 
to arms; and after having forced him to renew the 
Great Charter, they appointed 24 commissioners 
to superintend the administration of affairs. 

Q. What was the result of these contentions ? 

A. In the civil war which ensued, the king and 
his two sons were taken prisoners ; but Edward, 
the eldest, having made his escape, defeated the 
rebels, and restored his father to the throne. 

Q. What do you observe of the remainder of this 
reign ? 

A. During the absence of his son Edward in the 
Holy Land, the king, worn out with age, and the 
cares of government, expired in the 64th year of 
his age, and the 56th of his reign. 

Q. What are the remarkable events of this reign ? 

A. In the reign of Henry III. the first regular 
parliament was assembled. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. During the reign of Henry III., Frederick II. 
reigned over Germany; Louis VIII. , Louis IX., 
and Philip III., governed France ; and Alexander 
11^ and Alexander III., reigned in Scotland. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Edward the First, A. D. 1272-1307. 
Q. What were the first acts of Edward's reign ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 39 

A. Edward I. began his reign by confirming the 
great charter, protecting the people against the 
oppressions of the barons, and making strict in- 
quiries into the affairs of the state. 

Q. What were the military transactions of this 
reign ? 

A. Edward conquered Wales, and gave it as a 
principality to his eldest son ; he also invaded 
Scotland, but, after taking possession of the whole 
kingdom, William Wallace rescued the country 
from the English yoke, and was appointed regent. 

Q. What was the result of this war ? 

A. Edward advanced with a powerful army and 
defeated Wallace, who some years afterward was 
betrayed into his hands, and put to death in Lon- 
don with the most brutal ferocity. 

Q. What do you observe of the remainder of this 
reign ? 

A. The Scots, having again revolted, chose 
Robert Bruce for their king, and Edward was 
hastening with an immense force to subdue them, 
when he died of a sudden illness at Carlisle, in 
the 35th year of his reign, and the 69th year of 
his age, a. d. 1307. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. Edward I., surnamed Longshanks, distin- 
guished himself both as a warrior and a statesman, 
enacting many wise statutes for the protection of 
the lower orders of the people : he was affable in> 
his manners, and was much beloved and respected 
by his subjects; but his cold-blooded massacre 



40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

of the bards, and other acts of cruelty, have left 
an indelible stain upon his memory. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
Edward I. ? 

A. Edward's contemporaries were Kudolph I., 
Adolphus, and Albert, Emperors of Germany; 
Philip III. and IV., Kings of France; and Alex- 
ander III., John Baliol, and Robert Bruce, Kings 
of Scotland. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Edward the Second, A. D. 1307-1327. 

Q. Who succeeded Edward I. ? 

A. Edward I. was succeeded by his son, Edward 
II., a mild, gentle, and inoffensive prince; but 
indolent, and much attached to favorites. 

Q. What are the chief events of this reign ? 

A. Edward lost the battle of Bannockburn, 
which secured the independence of Scotland ; and 
the remainder of his reign was a series of civil 
commotions, catfsed by his partiality to his favor- 
ites, Gaveston and Spencer. 

Q. What was the manner of his death ? 

A. Edward was seized by the rebel barons, at 
the instigation of his queen, Isabella, and her par- 
amour, Mortimer, and was cast into prison, where 
lie was barbarously murdered, A. D. 1327, after a 
turbulent reign of 20 years. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 41 

Q. Who were his contemporaries ? 

A. Contemporary with Edward II. were, Henry 
VIII. and Louis IV., Emperors of Germany; 
Philip IV., Louis X., Philip V. and Charles IV., 
Kings of France ; and Robert Bruce, King of 
Scotland. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Edward the Third, A. d. 1327-1377. 
Q. What do you observe of the commencement 

of this reign ? , t • * 

A. When Edward III. assumed the reins ot 
government, he caused Mortimer to be publicly 
hanged, and Isabella to be confined in the castle of 
Risings, during the remainder of her life, which 
lasted 28 years. 

Q. In what wars was he engaged ? 

A. After having obliged the King of Scotland to 
do him homage, Edward laid claim to the crown 
of France, and, having invaded that country, 
gained the memorable battles of Cressy and Poic- 
tiers, in the latter of which the Prince of Wales 
took the French king prisoner. 

What are the other events of this reign ? 

A. The King of Scotland having invaded England 
during the absence of Edward, his queen, Philippa 
gave the Scots battle, defeated them, and captured 
their king; toward the end of this reign, the 
English lost all their conquests in France, with 
the exception of Calais and a few other places. 
4* 



42 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What was the cause of Edward's death ? 

A. Edward is said to have died of melancholy, 
for the loss of his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, 
surnamed the Black Prince , who was universally 
beloved for his bravery and virtues : he expired 
A. D. 1377, in the 65th year of his age, and 51st 
of his reign ; one of the longest and most glorious 
in the annals of England. 

Q. What inventions took place ? 

A. In this reign also gold was first coined, gun- 
powder and guns were invented, and the order of 
the Garter was instituted. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. The sovereigns contemporary with Edward 
III. were, Louis IV. and Charles IV., of Germa- 
ny $ Charles IV. of France ; Robert Bruce, David 
II., Edward Baliol, and Robert II., the first of the 
Stuarts, of Scotland. 



CHAPTER X. 

Richard the Second, A. D. 1377-1399* 



*'; 



Q. Who next ascended the throne? 
A. Edward III. was succeeded by his grandson, 
Richard II., who, being but eleven years of age 

Note. — Surnamed the Black Prince from the color of his 
armor. After the battle of Cressy, in which the King of 
Bohemia was slain, the Prince of Wales adopted his crest, 
which was three ostrich feathers, with his motto, Ich dien, I 
serve ; and his successors have borne this device ever since. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 43 

when he came to the throne, was placed under the 
guardianship of his three uncles. 

Q. What insurrection took place in the early 
part of this reign ? 

A. An oppressive tax having been imposed 
upon the people, 100,000 insurgents, with Wat 
Tyler at their head, assembled at Blackheath, 
where they were met by the king; but Tyler, 
making his demand in an insolent manner, was 
killed, and order restored by the presence of mind 
of the young king. 

Q. What was the subsequent conduct of the 
king? 

A. Richard excited great discontent in the na- 
tion by his severity and injustice ; so that at last 
the barons took up arms, made the king prisoner, 
and, after having tried him, he was deposed ; and 
the Duke of Lancaster, his cousin, made king, by 
the title of Henry IV. 

Q. What was the manner of his death ? 

A. Richard was starved to death in Pomfret- 



Note. — During the conference, Wat Tyler occasionally 
lifted up his sword in a menacing manner, which so irritated 
Walworth, the Mayor of London, that he struck him to the 
ground with his mace, where he was soon despatched by the 
king's attendants. The multitude were preparing to revenge 
the death of their leader, when Richard rode up to them, and 
cried out, " What, my people, will you then kill your king ? Are 
you concerned for the loss of your leader ? follow me, I my- 
self will now be your general." The populace, overawed by 
his manner, followed him into the fields, where they peace- 
ably separated, upon his granting them a charter for the 
redress of their grievances. 



44 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 






castle, in the 34th year of his age, and 23d of his 
reign, a. d. 1399. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. Richard was fond of idle ostentation and lux- 
urious pleasures, and became the dupe of worthless 
favorites, who, taking advantage of his weakness 
and effeminacy, urged him to acts of tyranny and 
oppression. 

Q. To what did the deposition of Richard give 



rise 



? 



A. The deposition of Richard, and the usurpa- 
tion of the Duke of Lancaster, gave rise to the 
contest between the houses of York and Lancaster, 
which, for many years after, filled the kingdom 
with anarchy and bloodshed. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A: The contemporaries of Richard II. were, 
Charles IV., and Wenceslaus, Emperors of Ger- 
many; Charles V. and Charles VI., Kings of 
France ; Margaret, Queen of Denmark, Norway, 
and Sweden ; Robert II. and Robert III., Kings 
of Scotland. 



BOOK IV. 

FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY IV., TO THE 
ACCESSION OF HENRY VII., A. D. 1485. 



CHAPTEE I. 

HOUSE OF LANCASTER. 

Henry the Fourth, A. D. 1399-1413. 

Q. Who was Henry IV. ? 

A. Henry IV. was son of John of Gaunt, Duke 
of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III. 

Q. What was the manner of his death ? 

A. He is said to have been seized with a fit, (to 
which he was subject in the latter part of his life,) 
while at his devotions before the shrine of Edward 
the Confessor, in Westminster Abbey, and expired 
in the 46th year of his age, and 13 th of his reign, 
A. D. 1413. 

Q. What was his character ? 

A. Henry IV. possessed great military talents 
and political wisdom; but he lost the affection 
of his subjects by his usurpation and the murder 
of his lawful king. 
Q. What invention took place in this reign ? 

45 



46 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. Cards were invented about this time for the 
amusement of Charles VI., King of France, who, 
being subject to frequent fits of insanity, used 
them during his intervals of reason. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
Henry IV. ? 

A. The contemporary sovereigns were Wences- 
laus, Eobert le Pet, and Sigismund, of Germany; 
Charles VI., of France ; Margaret, and Eric XIII., 
of Denmark and Sweden; and Robert III., of 
Scotland. 



CHAPTER II. 

Henry the Fifth, A. D. 1413-1422. 

Q. What was the conduct of Henry V. before 
he became king ? 

A. Henry V., when Prince of Wales, was noto- 
rious for all kinds of debauchery, and often, when 
heated with wine, aided his profligate companions 
in robbing the passengers on the highway. 

Note. — One of his companions having been brought to 
trial before Sir William Grascoigne, the chief-justice, Prince 
Henry appeared with him in court, and finding that he was 
condemned, notwithstanding his interference, he was so en- 
raged, that he struck the justice upon the bench; but Gas- 
coigne, mindful of the dignity of his office, ordered the prince 
to be committed to prison. When his father, Henry IV.. 
heard of this transaction, he exclaimed : "Happy is the king 
who has a magistrate endowed with courage to execute the 
laws upon such an offender : still more happy in having a 
son willing to submit to such a chastisement." 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 47 

Q. What were the first acts of his reign ? 

A The first measures of Henry after he came 
to the throne were to dismiss his former dissolute 
companions, and to receive the wise ministers of 
his father who had checked his riots. 

Q. What were the principal events of his reign ? 

A. Henry invaded France, where he gained 
the celebrated battle of Agincourt : and having 
conquered the whole kingdom, was appointed 
regent and heir to the French monarchy. 

Q. Of what did he die ? 

A. Henry had nearly reached the summit of 
glory, when he was seized with a fistula, which 
terminated his days in the 34th year of his age, 
and the 10th of his reign, a. D. 1422. 

Q. What was the character of this king ? 

A Henry V. far excelled the other princes of 
his age in the art of war and government, endear- 
ing his friends by his engaging manners, and 
overcoming his enemies by his address and 
clemency. 

Q. Who were HenryV contemporaries? 

A. The sovereigns contemporary with Henry 
V. were, Sigismund, Emperor of Germany; Charles 
VI., King of France; Eric XIII. of Denmark 
and Sweden; and Robert III. of Scotland. 



48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

CHAPTER III. 

Henry the Sixth, A. D. 1422-1471. 

Q. By whom was Henry V succeeded ? 

A. Henry V. was succeeded by his only son, 
Henry VI. who being not yet a year old, the 
government, both of England and France, was 
intrusted to his uncles, the Dukes of Bedford 
and Gloucester. 

Q. What took place at the commencement of 
this reign ? 

A. Henry VI. soon after his accession, was 
crowned king of France at Paris, but by degrees 
the English lost ground in that kingdom, and 
were finally dispossessed of all their conquests, 
through the enthusiasm raised by the famous 
Joan d'Arc, called the Maid of Orleans. 

Q. What were the other events of this reign ? 

A. Henry was very unfortunate in his choice 
of ministers, which was the cause of an alarming 
insurrection headed by John Cade ; and shortly 
after its suppression, Richard, Duke of York, laid 

Note. — Joan d'Arc was a country girl, who conceived her- 
self destined by Heaven to rescue France out of the hands 
of the English. Receiving encouragement from the court, 
she succeeded in raising the siege of Orleans, and led the 
French army from victory to victory, till she caused the king 
to be crowned at Rheims ; she was, however, finally taken 
prisoner by the English, tried for sorcery and magic, and 
condemned to be burned to death as a sorceress : this cruel 
sentence was carried into execution in the public square at 
Rouen. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^ 49 

claim to the crown, and raised an army to second 
his pretensions. 

Q. What name was given to this contest ? 

A. The civil wars which followed were called 
the quarrel between the two roses, from the 
symbols of the contending parties, that of Lan- 
caster being a red rose, and that of York a white 
one. 

Q. What was the result of these wars ? 

A. After being for a long time successful, the 
Duke of York was killed at the battle of Wake- 
field, but his son Edward, assisted by the Earl of 
Warwick, continued the claim, and having routed 
the king's army, was proclaimed king. 

Q. What was the fate of King Henry ? 

A. Henry, after having been detained in prison 
nine years, was once more placed on the throne 
by the Earl of Warwick j but his party being 
again overthown in the battle of Barnet, he was 
confined in the Tower, where he was murdered, 
A. D. 1471. ' 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
A. Henry discovered from his youth marks of 
weakness and incapacity, and at times was subject 
to fits of insanity ; but his general disposition 
was pious and humane, and he liberally rewarded 
learning and merit. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
A. The contemporaries of Henry VI. were, 

Note.— The Earl of Warwick, called the King Maker, was 
the most powerful nobleman in England, and was distin- 
guished by his bravery, hospitality, and magnificence. 
5 



50 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Sigismund, Albert II. and Frederick III., Emperors 
of Germany; Charles VII. and Louis XI., Kings 
of France; Eric XIV. of Denmark and Sweden; 
and Robert III., James I., James II., and James 
III. ; sovereigns of Scotland. 



CHAPTER IV. 

HOUSE OF YORK. 
Edward the Fourth, A. D. 1471-1483. 

Q. Who was Edward IV. ? 

A. Edward IV. was the son of Richard, Duke 
of York, who, being descended from Lionel, third 
son of Edward III. had a claim to the throne 
prior to that of the house of Lancaster, who were 
descended from a younger son of the same 
monarch. 

Q. What difficulties had he to contend with ? 

A. When Edward was elected king by the 
army and by the people of London, the greatest 
part of the kingdom still acknowledged subjection 
to Henry VI. ; but after gaining the sanguinary 
victories of Tourton and Hexham, his title was 
recognised by parliament, and quietly submitted 
to by the people ? 

Q. From what quarter was he again opposed f 

A. Edward having given cause of offence to 
the Earl of Warwick, that nobleman became his 
most inveterate enemy, and espousing the cause 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 51 

of the captive Henry, replaced him on the throne, 
and obliged Edward to fly to Holland. 

Q. Did Edward regain possession of the crown ? 

A. Edward returned to England with a few 
troops, and being joined by his partisans, defeated 
and slew his great opponent in the battle of Bar- 
net; and soon after triumphed over Queen Marga- 
ret at Tewkesbury, where that spirited, princess 
Was made prisoner, together with her son, Prince 
Edward. 

Q. How did he then conduct himself? 

A. Edward exercised horrible cruelties upon 
his enemies, and even put his brother, the Duke 
of Clarence, to death : at the same time aban- 
doning himself to riot and debauchery, which 
brought him to an untimely end, in the 42d year 
of his age, and the 23d of his reign, A. D. 1483. 

Q. How many children had he ? 

A. Edward IV. left two sons, Edward, Prince 
of Wales, then in his 13th year, and Richard, 
Duke of York, in his ninth j besides five daugh- 
ters. 

#. What useful discovery was introduced into 
England during this reign f 

Note. — The young prince being brought before Edward 
after the battle, and being asked by the king how he dared 
to invade his dominions, boldly replied, that he came thither 
to avenge his father's injuries and to redress his own ; upon 
which the barbarous monarch struck him upon the mouth 
with his gauntlet, and his brothers, hurrying him into an 
adjoining apartment, basely despatched him with their 
daggers. Richard is said also to have murdered King 
Henry VI. a few days after in prison. 



52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. While the country was distracted by civil 
commotions, the art of printing was introduced 
at London, by William Caxton, a merchant, in 
1471, and from that period the English made 
rapid progress in literature. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. Frederick II., of Germany ; Mohammed II., 
first Emperor of the Turks; Louis IX., of France; 
Christian L, of Denmark and Sweden; and James 
III., of Scotland. 



CHAPTER V. 

Edward the Fifth, A. D. 1483. 

Q. In whom was the government of the king- 
dom vested during the king's minority ? 

A. Edward V. being but thirteen years of age 
at his accession, was put under the charge of the 
Duke of Rivers ; and his uncle Richard, Duke of 
Gloucester, was declared protector. 

Q. How did he conduct himself in that office? 

A. Gloucester was no sooner invested with the 
protectorate than he put to death Lord Hastings 
and other distinguished noblemen, and seized 
upon the crown, under the pretence that his 
nephews were illegitimate. 

Q. What followed his usurpation ? 

A. In order to secure his ill-gotten power, 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 53 

Richard ordered the two princes to be assassinated; 
and they were accordingly suffocated with the 
bolster and pillows as they lay asleep in the 
Tower, only a few months after their father's 
death, a. d. 1483. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Richard the Third, A. D. 1483-1484. 

Q. What were the first acts of Richard's 
administration ? . • 

A. Richard sought to establish his authority 
by bestowing rewards on those who had assisted 
him in his usurpation ; but the Duke of Bucking- 
ham, disgusted at some neglect, determined to 
depose him, and to advance Henry, Earl of Rich- 
mond, in his place. 

Q. Was he successful in his attempt ? 

A. Buckingham's intentions being prematurely 
discovered, and his army abandoning him, he was 
betrayed into the hands of the king by his own 
servant, and beheaded at Salisbury, without even 
the form of a trial. 

Q. Did Richmond still prosecute his design ? 

A. Richmond landed at Milford-haven, in Wales, 
with only 2000 men, but being joined by 
a considerable number of the English, he advanced 
to give Richard battle. 

5* 



54 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What was the issue of the contest ? 

A. The two armies met at Bosworth-field, in 
Leicestershire, and Richard performed prodigies 
of valor, but Lord Stanley having deserted him 
with 7000 men, he was defeated and slain ; and 
Richmond was proclaimed king and crowned 
upon the field of battle, under the title of Henry 
VII. 

Q. What was the character of Richard III. ? 

A. Richard was possessed of great abilities, 
personal courage, and military talents, but was 
subtle, cruel, and vindictive. 



BOOK V. 

FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY VII., TO THE 
BEHEADING OF CHARLES I., A. D. 1649. 



CHAPTER I. 

HOUSE OF TUDOR. 

Henry the Seventh, A. D. 1485-1509. 

Q. Who was Henry VII. ? 

A. Henry VII. was descended by his mother's 
side from the house of Lancaster ; and soon after 
his accession, by espousing Elizabeth, daughter of 
Edward IV., he united the right of the house of 
York to his own. 

Q. Was his claim quietly acceded to ? 

A. Henry's tranquillity was for several years 
disturbed by two impostors, Lambert Simnel, 
who personated the Earl of Warwick, and Perkin 
Warbeck, who pretended to be the Duke of York, 
who had been murdered in the Tower with his 
brother, Edward V. 

Q. What do you remark of his subsequent 
government ? 

A. After frustrating the designs of his ene- 
mies, and restoring tranquillity, Henry humbled 
the power of the barons, and enacted many use- 

55 



56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ful laws for the encouragement of trade and navi- 
gation, and for securing the happiness of his 
people. 

Q. How long did he reign ? 

A, Henry VII. reigned 23 years, and died of 
the gout in 1509, in 52d year of his age. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. Henry VII. was a wise prince but jealous 
of his authority ; his principal weakness was his 
too great love of money, to gratify which his mi- 
nisters were often guilty of arbitrary measures. 

Q. What important discovery was made in this 
reign ? 

A. Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, 
in the service of Spain, first discovered America, 
and landed on one of the Bahama Islands, Oct. 
12, 1492, to which he gave the name of San 
Salvador — but Sebastian Cabot, a native of Bris- 
tol, first discovered the continent of North 
America, in 1498. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

Q. The sovereigns contemporary with Henry 
were, Frederick III., and Maximilian I., Emperors 
of Germany ; Bajazet II., Emperor of the Turks ; 
Ferdinand and Isabella, Sovereigns of Spain ; 
Charles VIII., and Louis XII., Kings of France ) 
John, King of Denmark and Sweden : and James 
III. and James IV., of Scotland. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 57 

CHAPTER II. 
Henry the Eighth, A. D. 1509-1547. 

Q. Under what circumstances did Henry ascend 
the throne ? 

A. He ascended the throne under the most 
favorable circumstances. The nation was at 
peace, the country prosperous and happy, and the 
treasury well filled. In person he was tall and 
handsome, and possessed of a good education. 
But he afterwards became a most cruel and rapa- 
cious tyrant. 

Q. What were some of the most memorable 
transactions of his reign ? 

A. They were his matrimonial alliances, and the 
consequences that followed from them. 

Q. How many wives had he ? 

A. Henry had six wives ; the first was Catha- 
rine of Arragon, whom he divorced; the second, 
Anne Boleyne, who was beheaded; the third, 
Jane Seymour, mother of Edward VI. ; the fourth, 
Anne of Cleves, whom he divorced; the fifth, 
Catharine Howard, whom he beheaded ; and the 
sixth was Catharine Parr, who survived him. 

Q. What caused his misunderstanding with the 
Pope? 

A. Henry becoming dissatisfied with his first 
wife, Catharine of Arragon, applied to the Pope 
for a divorce ; but the pontiff, not believing the 
grounds for the divorce sufficiently valid, re- 
fused to grant it. At this the king became 



58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

furious ; lie threw off the authority of the Pope, 
and assumed the title of Supreme Head of the 
English Church; he abolished the monasteries, 
and seized upon their revenues, which he convert- 
ed to the use of the crown. 

Q. What events took place during his reign ? 

J.. During his reign, Martin Luther commenced 
the Reformation in Germany; Henry wrote a 
book against Luther, on which account he received 
the title of " Defender of the Faith," a title still 
retained by the British Sovereigns to the present 
time. 

Q. What were the military transactions of this 
reign ? 

A. Henry invaded France, but did not follow 
up his successes; at his return the Scots were 
defeated at Flodden-field, with the loss of their 
king, and the flower of the nobility. 

Q. How long did this king reign ? 

Jl. Henry VIII. died in the 38 th year of his 
reign, and the 56th of his age, A. d. 1547. 

Q. What eminent men lived in his reign ? 

A* The most eminent characters were, Cardinal 
Wolsey, for a long time the king's favorite, but 
who finally lost his favor, and Sir Thomas More, 
Lord Chancellor, and Bishop Fisher, who were 
beheaded for refusing to acknowledge the king's 
supremacy. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. Contemporary with Henry VIII. , were Charles 
V., Emperor of Germany and King of Spain; 
Louis XII., and Francis I., Kings of France; 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 59 

Gustavus Vasa, Liberator and King of Sweden ; 
and. James IV., and James V., and Mary, sove- 
reigns of Scotland. 



CHAPTER III. 

Edward the Sixth, a.d. 1547-1553. 

Q. Who was Edward VI. ? 

A. Edward VI. was the only son of Henry III., 
by Jane Seymour, his third wife. Being but nine 
years cf age when his father died, the Duke of 
Somerset, his maternal uncle, was chosen pro- 
tector. 

Q. What were the chief events of this reign ? 

A. The principal events of Edward's reign were 
the completion of the Reformation, and the de- 
feat of the Scots near Musselburgh, in which 
10,000 of them were killed. 

Q. What change did he make in the succes- 
sion? 

A. Edward being in a declining state of health, 
was persuaded by the intrigues of the new pro- 
tector, the Duke of Northumberland, to appoint 
as his successor Lady Jane Grey, thus excluding 
his sisters Mary and Elizabeth, together with 
Mary, Queen of Scotland. 

Q. What was the consequence of this act ? 

A. On the death of Edward, Northumberland 



60 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

caused Lady Jane to be proclaimed queen ; but 
the nation acknowledged the title of Mary, and 
Lady Jane was confined in the Tower, after en- 
joying the sovereign*' power only ten days. 

Q. How long did Edward reign, and what was 
his character? 

A. Edward died in the 16th year of his age, 
and the seventh of his reign. Pie was mild and 
amiable in his disposition, and his loss was much 
lamented by the nation. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
Edward VI.? 

A. Edward's contemporaries were, Charles V., 
Emperor of Germany and King of Spain ; Henry 
II., King of France ; and Mary, Queen of Scot- 
land 



m CHAPTER IV. 

Mary, A. D. 1553-1558. 

Q. Who was Queen Mary ? 

A. Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII., by 
his first wife, Catharine of Arragon. 

Q. What were the first acts of her reign ? 

A. Mary, being a Catholic, endeavored, in the 
early part of her reign, to re-establish the Catho- 
lic religion. 

Q. Whom did she marry ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 61 

A. She married Philip the Second of Spain. 

Q. What insurrection took place ? 

A. An insurrection broke out, headed by the 
Duke of Suffolk and his brother; it was, however, 
easily suppressed, and the leaders brought to the 
scaffold. Among others who suffered on this 
occasion, was the much lamented Lady Jane 
Grey, whose life had been spared, on a former oc- 
casion, as a pledge for the loyality of the house 
of Suffolk. 

Q. When did Mary die ? 

A. She died in the 43d hear of her age, and in 
6th of her reign, a. d. 1558. Her death is said 
to have been hastened by her grief for the loss 
of Calais. 

Q. What was her character ? 

A. Mary has been much blamed for the perse- 
cution of Reformers, which prevailed during her 
reign. In other respects she was distinguished 
for her sincerity, piety, clemency, and compassion 
for the poor. 

Note. — Calais had been in the possession of the English 
upwards of 200 years, and was all that remained to them of 
their extensive possessions and conquests. It was taken by 
the French in eight days, although it had cost Edward III. 
a siege of 11 months. 



62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

CHAPTER V. 
Elizabeth, a. r>. 1558-1603. 

Q. Who was Queen Elizabeth ? 

A. Elizabeth was daughter of Henry VIII., by 
Anne Boleyne, his second wife. On the death 
of Mary, she ascended the throne, being in the 
25th year of her age. 

Q. How did she begin her reign ? 

A. Elizabeth, upon coming to the throne, imme- 
diately restored the Protestant religion, and exer- 
cised the utmost severity against the professors of 
the Catholic faith. 

T. Describe the chief event of her reign. 

P. In this reign, the Spaniards prepared to in- 
vade England with a powerful fleet, which they 
styled " the Invincible Armada." But on its 
approach to the English shores, it was met by the 
English fleet, commanded by Lord Admiral 
Howard, Drake, and others, and completely de- 
feated. 

Q. What severities tarnished the reign of Eliza- 
beth ? 

A. One of the greatest stains upon the character 
of Elizabeth is her cruel persecution of her cou- 
sin, the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots whom 
she put to death after an imprisonment of nearly 
twenty years. 

Q. What was the cause of Elizabeth's death ? 

A. Elizabeth died soon after the execution of 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 63 

her favorite, the Earl of Essex, which she had 
ordered in a moment of resentment. 

Q. How long did she reign ? 

A. Elizabeth died in the 70th year of her age, 
and the 45th of her reign, A. d. 1603. 

Q. What was the character of Elizabeth ? 

A. Elizabeth possessed eminent abilities as a 
sovereign, and was distinguished for her talents 
in directing public affairs. But in principles she 
was despotic, jealous, cruel and revengeful ; her 
conversation was often grossly profane, and in her 
private life she was even less to be admired. 

Q. What do you observe of her reign ? 

A. During the time of Elizabeth, the English 
nation made astonishing progress in arts, com- 
merce, and literature ; it became industrious, polite, 
and powerful, secure at home, and formidable 
abroad. 

Q. What eminent men lived at this period? 

A. In the reign of Elizabeth lived the immor- 
tal Shakspeare; Edmund Spenser, a celebrated 
poet; admiral Howard; and Cecil and Bur- 
leigh, two eminent statesmen. 

Q. What else is worthy of notice ? 

A. In 1589, coaches were first introduced into 
England, and soon after watches were brought 
over from Germany ; in this reign also, Sir Fran- 
cis Drake was the first Englishman that Sailed 
round the world. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
Elizabeth ? 

A. During the reign of Elizabeth, Germany 



64 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

was governed by the Emperors Ferdinand L, 
Maximilian II. and Rodolphus II. ; France by 
Henry II., Francis II., Charles IX., Henry III. 
and Henry IV. ; Spain and Portugal by Philip 
II., and Philip III.; and Scotland by Mary, and 
James IV. 



CHAPTER VI. 

HOUSE OF STUART. 

James the First, A. d. 1603-1625. 

Q. Who was James I. ? 

A. James I. was the son of the unfortunate 
Mary, Queen of Scots, and succeeded to the crown 
in consequence of the will of the late queen, 
joined to his claim of hereditary right, as next 
in descent from Henry VII. 

Q. What remarkable event happened in this 
reign ? 

A. The commencement of the reign of James I. 
was distinguished by the discovery and defeat of 
the Gunpowder Plot. 

Q. What was the Gunpowder Plot ? 

A. « The Gunpowder Plot was a scheme of a few 
desperate men, to blow up the king and the two 
houses of parliament ; but it was happily disco- 
vered by the sagacity of the monarch, and the 
conspirators put to death. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 65 

Q. What do you remark of the conduct of 
James I. ? 

A. James I. is much blamed for his partiality to 
favorites. His leading passion seems to have 
been a love of arbitrary power. The divine right 
of kings to govern without control, was with him 
a favorite theme. 

^ Q. How long did he reign ? 

A. James I. died in 1625, in the 59th year of 
his age, and the 22d of his reign over England : 
his reign over Scotland was almost of equal dura- 
tion with his life, having been crowned when 
only a year old. 

Q. What eminent men lived during this reign ? 

A. Sir Walter Kaleigh, an illustrious navigator 
and historian, flourished during the reign of 
James ; also, Camden, the historian ; Lord Chan- 
cellor Bacon, called the father of experimental 
philosophy ; and Ben Johnson, a celebrated dra- 
matic writer. 

Q. What discoveries were made in this reign ? 

A. In 1619, Dr. Harvey discovered the circula- 
tion of the blood ; and about the same time died 
Baron Napier, of Scotland, who invented logarithms : 
in this reign also the present Protestant version 
of the Bible was published by royal authority. 

Q. Who were the contemporary severeigns ? 

A. The sovereigns contemporary with James I. 
were, Rodolphus II., Matthias L, and Ferdinand 
II., Emperors of Germany ; Henry IV., and 
Louis XII., Kings of France; Philip III., and 
Philip IV., Sovereigns of Spain and Portugal.. 
6* 






66 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 

CHAPTER VII. 
Charles the First, a. D. 1625-1649. 

Q. What are the principal features of this 
reign ? 

A. The reign of Charles I. is remarkable for 
the civil war which took place between him and 
the parliament. 

Q. What was the cause of this war ? 

A. The civil war was chiefly caused by the at- 
tempts of the king, inheriting his father's notions 
of the royal prerogative, to raise taxes and levy 
money upon the people, without the authority of 
parliament. 

T. Name those who distinguished themselves 
at this period. 

P. Among the chief instigators and conductors 
of the civil war, were Hampden, John Pym, 
Oeneral Fairfax, Ifeton, Monk, and Oliver Crom- 
well. 

Q. What was the result of this contest ? 

A. After the war had continued for some time, 
with various success, Charles was totally defeated, 
and having given himself up to the Scottish 
army, he was delivered over to the parliament, 
by whose authority he was put to death, on the 
30th of January, 1649, in the 49th year of his 
age, and the. 24th of his reign. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. Charles I. had many virtues and accomplish- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 67 

ments, but he permitted himself to be guided by 
ministers, who advised those arbitrary measures 
which finally brought him to the block. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
Charles L? 

A. The contemporaries of Charles I. were, Fer- 
dinand II., and Ferdinand III., Emperors of 
Germany; Louis XIII., and Louis XIV., Kings 
of France ; Philip IV. of Spain ; and John IV. 
of Portugal. 



BOOK VI. 

FROM THE FORMATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH 
TO THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF BRUNS- 
WICK, A. D. 1714. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE COMMONWEALTH. 

Oliver Cromwell, Protector, A. D. 1654-1658. 

Q. What form of government was established 
after the king's death ? 

A. Upon the death of Charles, the house of 
commons abolished the regal power, and declared 
the house of lords useless : a commonwealth was 
proclaimed, and the king's name changed to that 
of the Keeper of the Liberties of England. 

Q. Did the parliament maintain with energy 
the superiority of England ? 

A. The troops of the commonwealth, under 
Oliver Cromwell, reduced Scotland and Ireland, 
while Admiral Blake subdued the settlements in 
America, and spread the terror of the English 
name by sea to every quarter of the globe. 
68 



HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 69 

Q. What change took place in the government? 

A, Cromwell, having encouraged a dispute be- 
tween the army and the house of commons, dis- 
solved that assembly with an armed force, and 
caused himself to be declared Lord Protector of 
the commonwealth of England. 

Q. What do you observe of Cromwell's admi- 
nistration ? 

A, Cromwell humbled the power of Holland 
and Spain, and maintained the national honor in 
foreign countries ; while England was improving 
both in riches and in power. 

Q. When did he die ? 

A. For some time before his death, Cromwell 
was subject to a perpetual disquietude; at length 
he was seized with a fever, which terminated his 
life in the 60th year of his age, and the 5th of 
his protectorship, A. D. 1658. 

Q. What character is given of Cromwell ? 

A. Oliver Cromwell was a man of considerable 
genius, capacity, and great military talents ; but 
pre-eminently distinguished for his ambition, cru- 
elty, and hypocrisy. 

Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 

A. On the death of Oliver Cromwell, his son 
Richard peaceably assumed the protectorship ; 
but as he wanted ambition, and did not possess 
the confidence of the army, he resigned his power 
at the end of three months. 

Q. What measures were now taken by the army? 

A. Richard having abdicated the protectorship, 
General Monk assembled a free parliament, and 



70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

proposed the restoration of the royal family, 
which meeting with the approbation of the people, 
Charles II. was recalled, after an exile of twelve 
years. 



CHAPTER II. 

Charles the Second, A. D. 1661-1685. 

Q. What was the first act of Charles's reign? 

A. Charles II. made his public entry into Lon- 
don on the 29th May, 1660, amid the acclamations 
of the people ; and one of his first measures was to 
pass an act of general indemnity for all that had 
taken place, except to those immediately concerned 
in the late king's death. 

Q. What were the principal occurrences of this 
reign ? 

A. Charles exiled his virtuous minister, the Earl 
of Clarendon, and having chosen men who did not 
enjoy the confidence of the people, several real or 
imaginary plots were formed, which cost Lord Rus- 
sell, Algernon Sidney, and others, their lives. 

Q. What other events do you notice ? 

A. In 1665 a plague raged throughout England, 
and the year after the great fire of London con- 
sumed 13,000 houses; the Dutch also sailed up 
the Medway and destroyed several ships of war at 
Chatham. 

Q. When did he die ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 71 

A. Charles died on the 6th of February, 1685, 
in the 55th year of his age ; he left no children by 
his wife Catharine, Infanta of Portugal, and was 
succeeded by his brother James. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. Charles II. possessed an agreeable person and 
manners; but he was indolent, fond of pleasure ; 
and little attached to the glory of England. 

Q. What eminent men lived at this time ? 

A. In the reign of Charles II. lived the poets 
Milton and Butler; the Earl of Clarendon and Al- 
gernon Sidney, eminent politicians; and Thomas 
Otway, a writer of tragedies. 

Q. What else is worthy of notice ? 

A. Charles II. established the Royal Society, and 
acceded to the Habeas Corpus Act; in his reign, 
also, tea was first used in England. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. The reigning sovereigns contemporary with 
Charles II. were, Leopold, Emperor of Germany ; 
Louis XIV., King of France; Philip IV., and 
Charles II., of Spain; and Charles XL, of Sweden. 



CHAPTER III. 

James the Second, A. D. 1685-1688. 

Q. Who next ascended the throne ? 

A. James, Duke of York, brother to the late king ? 



72 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

now ascended the throne, and being a Catholic, his 
first efforts were directed toward restoring the 
Catholic religion. 

Q. What took place in the early part of his reign? 

A. The Duke of Monmouth excited a rebellion, 
under pretext of preserving the Protestant reli- 
gion ; but being defeated, he was beheaded, with 
many of his followers. 

Q. What were the other events of this reign ? 

A. Some of the measures of James being un- 
popular, a rebellion was excited against him ; the 
people applied for aid to William, Prince of Orange, 
who landed at Torbay on the 5th of November, 
1688, with about 13,000 men. 

Q. How was he received by the English ? 

A. The whole country soon flocked to the stand- 
ard of William ; and James, finding himself de- 
serted by his friends, and even his children, re- 
tired to France^ where he died A. D. 1701. 

Q. On whom was the succession of the crown 
settled? 

A. James having deserted the kingdom, the Prince 
and Princess of Orange were declared by parlia- 
ment joint sovereigns, by the names of William 
and Mary. 

Q. What name is given to this event, and what 
were its consequences ? 

A. This event is called the Revolution ; by it all 
disputed points between the king and people were 
determined ; the power of the king was diminished, 
and many valuable privileges were obtained for the 
people. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 73 

CHAPTER IV. 

William and Mary, A. D. 1688-1702. 

Q. Who was William III. ? 

A. William III., son of William, Prince of 
Orange, and of Henrietta, daughter of Charles L, 
was born in Holland, and was married to Mary, 
daughter of James II. 

Q. What were the principal events of his reign ? 

A. James having returned from France, and 
raised an army in Ireland, William defeated him 
in the memorable battle of the Boyne. 

Q. What minor occurrences do you notice in this 
reign ? 

A. In the reign of William III. the Bank of Eng- 
land was established, and the first public lottery 
was drawn. 

Q. What was the cause of William's death ? 

A. William died in consequence of a fall from 
his horse, March 8, 1702, in the 52d year of his 
age, and the 14th of his reign : Queen Mary had 
died before him, of the small-pox, without children. 

Q. What was the character of William ? 

A. William was possessed of talents and personal 
bravery, but his manners were cold and forbidding; 
the great object of his ambition during his life 
was to humble the power of Louis XIV., of France. 

Q. What eminent men flourished during this 
reign ? 

A. The reign of William III. was distinguished 
7 



74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

by the names of Dryden, Tillotson, Locke, and 
Sir Isaac Newton. 

Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
William III? 

A. During the reign of William III., Leopold 
ruled in Germany; Louis XIV., in France; 
Charles II., and Philip V., in Spain and Portu- 
gal; Charles XII., in Sweden; and Peter the 
Great, in Russia. 



CHAPTER V. 
Anne,. A. d. 1702-1714. 



Q. Who was Queen Anne ? 

A. Queen Anne was the second daughter of 
James II., and was married to Prince George, of 
Denmark. 

Q. What were the most memorable events of her 
reign ? 

A. During the reign of Anne, the honor of the 
British arms was carried to a great height by the 
Duke of Marlborough, who humbled the power of 
France in the glorious battles of Blenheim, 
Ramilies, &c. 

Q. What other transactions deserve notice ? 

A. In this reign, also, Gibraltar was taken by 
Sir George Rooke, and in 1706 the union between 
England and Scotland was effected. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 75 

Q. To what cause is the queen's death attributed ? 

A. Toward the end of Queen Anne's reign the 
disputes between the Whig and Tory parties had 
such an effect upon her spirits and constitution, 
that she sunk into a lethargy, of which she died in 
the 50th year of her age, and the 13th of her reign, 
A. d. 1714. 

Q. What was the character of this princess ? 

A. Queen Anne possessed many excellent quali- 
ties ; and the people dignified her with the title of 
the Good Queen Anne, on account of her piety 
and extensive charities. 

Q. Who were the most eminent personages of 
her reign ? 

A. The reign of Queen Anne is remarkable for 
the number of literary men produced : among 
the most celebrated were Addison, Pope, Steele, 
Swift, Gay, Congreve, Rowe, Prior, and Boling- 
broke. 

Q. Who were the contemporaries of Anne ? 

A. The sovereigns contemporary with Anne 
were, Leopold, Joseph I., and Charles VI., Em- 
perors of Germany; Louis XIV., King of France; 
Philip I., of Spain; Charles XII., Sweden; and 
Frederick, the first king of Prussia. 



BOOK VII. 

FROM THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF BRUNS-, 
WICK TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



CHAPTER I. 

HOUSE OF BRUNSWICK. 
George the First, A. D. 1714-1727. 

,Q. Who was George I. ? 

A. George I. was Duke of Brunswick and Elec- 
tor of Hanover ; he succeeded as the next Protest- 
ant heir, his mother Sophia having been grand- 
daughter of James I. 

Q. What rebellion took place in this reign ? 

A. About a year after the king's accession, the 
Pretender, son of James II., raised a rebellion in 
Scotland and England, which, though easily sup- 
pressed, proved fatal to many noblemen who had 
espoused his cause. 

Q. What were the consequences of this rebel- 
lion? 

A. In consequence of the disturbed state of the 
nation after this rebellion, the parliament, which be- 
fore was renewed every three years, voted a continu- 
ance of their duration from three to seven years. 

T6 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 77 

Q. What event distinguished the year 1720 ? 

A. The year 1720 was rendered remarkable by 
the fraud practised on the nation by the directors 
of the South Sea Company, which involved many 
thousands of families in ruin. 

Q. What distinguished trials took place in this 
reign ? 

A. In 1722, Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, 
was deprived of his see and banished for high- 
treason : the Earl of Macclesfield, Lord Chancellor, 
was also tried and severely fined for fraudulent 
practices. 

Q. Where did the king's death take place ? 

A. King George, having crossed the sea to visit 
Hanover, died suddenly at Osnaburg, on the 11th 
of June, 1727, in the 68th year of his age, and 
the 13th of his reign. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. George I. was distinguished for firmness and 
political sagacity, but inclined to party spirit, and 
was much attached to his continental possession. 

Q. What celebrated men died in this reign ? 

A. In the reign of George I., died Sir Christo- 
pher Wren, an eminent architect, and Sir Godfrey 
Kneller, a great painter. 

Q. What important discovery was then made ? 

A, In 1727, inoculation for the small-pox was 
first tried with success on two criminals, who in 
consequence received their pardon. 



7* 



78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

CHAPTER II. 

George the Second, A. D. 1727-1760. 

Q. Who succeeded George I. ? 

A. George I. was succeeded by his son, George 
II., who was proclaimed King of Great Britain 
on the 15th of June, 1727. 

Q. What do you observe of the commencement 
of this reign ? 

A. The beginning of this reign was distinguished 
by the debates in parliament on several measures 
of Sir S. Walpole, prime-minister, and Frederick, 
Prince of Wales, who placed himself at the head 
of the opposition, and Walpole retired from 
power. 

Q, What naval enterprises took place about this 
time? 

A. In a war with Spain, Admiral Vernon took 
and destroyed Porto Bello, and Lord Anson, in 
his voyage round the world, captured a large 
Spanish galleon loaded with treasure. 

T. Describe the rebellion of 1745. 

P. The young Pretender, grandson of James 
II., raised a rebellion in Scotland, and having de- 
feated the king's troops at Preston Pans, he ad- 
vanced as far as Derby, but was soon after totally 
routed at Culloden by the Duke of Cumberland. 

Note. — Frederick, Prince of Wales, was father of George 
III., and died in 1751, universally lamented by the nation. 
He lived for many years at variance with his father, but 
was afterward reconciled to him. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 79 

Q. What was the success of the war against 
France ? 

A. During the war with France, which began 
in 1755, the British power was established in the 
East Indies, and several West India islands were 
taken ; but Admiral Byng, having failed in reliev- 
ing Majorca, on his return was shot at Ports- 
mouth. 

Q. What were their other conquests ? 

A. During the year 1758, the English subjected 
all Canada and the other French possessions in 
North America ; but they lost the gallant General 
Wolfe, who gloriously fell at the moment of victory. 

Q. What was the success of the British arms 
in Europe ? 

A. The French, having invaded the British 
possessions in Germany, were defeated in the 
memorable battle of Minden ) while two of their 
fleets were destroyed by Admirals Boscawen and 
Hawke. 

Q. What do you remark of the king's death ? 

A. While the British arms were prosperous in 
every quarter of the globe, George II. was seized 
with a sudden illness, of which he died, October 
25, 1760, in the 33d year of his reign, and the 
77th of his age. 

Q. What was the character of this prince ? 

A. George II. was not possessed of shining 
abilities, and is said to have been violent in his 
temper ; but, on the other hand, was brave, gene- 
rous, and sincere. 

Q. What eminent men flourished in this reign ? 



80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. In the reign of George II., lived Young, 
Grey, Sterne, Hume, Sir R. Walpole, and the 
celebrated statesman, William Pitt, Earl of Chat- 
ham. 

Q. What incidents are worthy of mention ? 

A. The winter of 1740 was so severe, that the 
river Thames was frozen, and a fair held on the 
ice ; in 1756 the nabob of Bengal confined 146 
Englishmen in the Black Hole, at Calcutta, of 
whom 123 were found dead in the morning. 

Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 

A. The contemporaries of George II., were 
Charles VII., and Francis I., Emperors of Ger- 
many; Louis XV., King of France; Philip V., 
Ferdinand VI., and Charles III., of Spain ; and 
Frederick II., and Frederick III., of Prussia. 



CHAPTEE III. 

George the Third. 



Q. Who succeeded George II ? 

A. George II. was succeeded by his grandson, 
George III., eldest son of Frederick, late prince 
of Wales. 

T. Describe the occurrences of the new reign. 

P. The contest with France was still carried on 
with success, and in the war with Spain, which 
followed soon after, Havana, the capital of Cuba, 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 81 

was taken, and a register ship, worth a million 
sterling, was captured by two frigates. 

Q. What changes took place in the administra- 
tion? 
A. Soon after the king's accession, Mr. Pitt, after- 
ward Earl of Chatham, resigned his office of prime 
minister, and was succeeded by the Duke of New- 
castle, who, in 1762, made way for the Earl of 
Bute, the king's tutor, under whom a peace was 
concluded with France in 1763. 

Q. What circumstances agitated the nation at the 
commencement of this reign ? 

A. Mr. Wilkes., a member of parliament, in- 
volved himself in a contest with the court, which 
excited a flame throughout the kingdom. 

Q. What measures gave rise to the American 
Revolution ? 

A. Lord Bute having resigned, Mr. Grenville was 
appointed prime minister, and advised the king to 
impose taxes on the British colonies in North 
America. 

Q. What consequences ensued ? 

A. The colonies resisted, and after a seven years 
War, were acknowledged free and independent 
States. 

Q. What changes of ministry took place in con- 
sequence ? 

A. Lord North, who had conducted the American 
war, was succeeded by the Marquis of Rocking- 
ham, Lord Shelbourne, and Mr. Fox ; but the 
latter soon made way for Mr. Pitt, son of the late 
Earl of Chatham. 



$2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What other important events occurred about 
1 this time ? 

A. In 1780 great riots happened in London, in 
consequence of some indulgences granted to the 
Roman Catholics; and in 1782, Admiral Rodney 
obtained a signal victory over the French fleet. 

Q. What events distinguished the year 1788 ? 

A. In 1788 his majesty was seized with a mental 
disorder, which rendered him unfit for the exercise 
of his high functions ; but he recovered before a 
bill of regency was completed : the celebrated trial 
of Warren Hastings, also took place before the 
House of Peers. 

Q. What memorable event happened about the 
same period upon the continent ? 

A. In 1789 began the memorable Revolution in 
France, which deluged that kingdom with blood, 
changed the form of government into a republic, 
•and finally brought Louis XVI. to the scaffold. 

Q. What were the consequences of this event? 

A. In 1793, the French Convention commenced 
war against England, which lasted till 1802, during 
which several victories were obtained over the 
French and their allies, -by Admirals Howe, St. 
Vincent, Duncan, and Nelson. 

Q. What expeditions were undertaken to check 
the progress of the French ? 

A. In 1799, the Duke of York conducted an ex- 
pedition against Holland : and the French were 
expelled from Egypt, which they had conquered, 
]by General Abercrombie, who fell in the battle of 
j^lexandria. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 83 

Q. What events do you notice connected with 
Ireland ? 

A. A dreadful insurrection took place in Ireland, 
in 1798, which was not quelled until much blood 
was shed; and in 1801, the kingdom was united 
to Great Britain. 

Q. How long did the peace continue ? 

A. The peace of 1802 lasted only a year, owing 
to the restless spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte, who 
soon became First Consul, and shortly after, Em- 
peror of Finance . 

Q. What important victory was obtained in the 
early part of this war? 

A. On the 21st of October, 1805, Lord Nelson 
obtained a memorable victory over the combined 
fleets of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar; but 
the gallant admiral was killed in the action, to the 
inexpressible grief of the whole nation. 

Q. What other events are worthy of notice ? 

A. In 1806 the Cape of Good Hope was taken ; 
and, in the succeeding year Copenhagen was bom- 
barded, and the whole of the Danish navy sur- 
rendered to the English : the slave trade was also 
finally abolished. 

* Q. In what contests did England engage to check 
the progress of the French ? 

A. The French having taken military occupation 
of the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, the in- 
habitants solicited the protection of the English, 
who sent over a large body of men under Sir 
Arthur Wellesley, late Duke of Wellington. 
Q. What was the success of this war? 



84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. In 1810 the French army evacuated Portugal, 
and in its retreat through Spain was defeated at 
Talavera, Salamanca, and Vittoria ; in 1812 it was 
finally pursued into France, and again defeated 
before Toulouse. 

T. Describe the military occurrences in the other 
parts of the world. 

P. In 1809 the English sent out a considerable 
expedition to Walcheren, which ended very dis- 
astrously; but they were successful in other 
parts of the globe, and in the next year the 
French were deprived of their last possessions in 
the East and West Indies. 

Q. What events happened in England worthy 
of record? 

A. The Prince of Wales was appointed regent, 
in consequence of the king's incapacity; and Mr. 
Perceval, the prime minister, was shot, at the en- 
trance of the House of Commons. 

T. Relate the circumstances that led to the peace 
of 1814. 

P. Bonaparte invaded Russia with an army of 
500,000 men, and reached Moscow; but being 
obliged to retreat, the severity of the climate, 
and the attacks of the Russians almost annihi- 
lated his army. 

Q. What were the consequences of this disas- 
trous expedition ? 

A. Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia 
concluded an alliance, engaging to bring into the 
field a military force sufficient to crush the danger- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 85 

cms power of France, and to restore the indepen- 
dence of the European States. 

Q. "What was the success of this confederation ? 

A. After defeating the French at Leipsic, and 
in other well-contested battles, the combined 
troops entered France, and occupied Paris, on the 
31st of March, 1814. 

Q. How did the French people now act ? 

A. The French Senate appointed a provisional 
government, and, after obliging Bonaparte to abdi- 
cate the throne, invited over their legitimate 
monarch, Louis XVIII. , who was then residing 
in England. 

Q. What steps were taken with regard to Bona- 
parte ? 

A. Bonaparte was sent to the island of Elba, 
of which he was to retain the sovereignty, and to 
receive a pension of £20,000. 

Q. What circumstances attended the return of 
peace ? 

A. The return of peace was celebrated with 
illuminations and rejoicings in every part of the 
kingdom, and the Emperor of Russia, the King 
of Prussia, with the veteran generals Blucher 
and Platoff, took that opportunity of visiting 
England. 

Q. In what contest was England still engaged ? 

A. The English had been engaged in a war 
with the United States of America since June, 
1812, which was carried on with vigor by both 
parties, by sea and land, until December, 1814. 

Q. What again disturbed the peace of Europe ? 



00 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

A. Bonaparte returned from Elba, in May, 1815, 
and, landing in France, recovered the imperial 
dignity. 

Q. What measures did the other powers adopt ? 

A. The allies immediately determined to expel the 
usurper, and having marched their forces to Bel- 
gium, they were soon opposed by Bonaparte in 
person. 

Q. What battle took place ? 

A. Bonaparte attacked the British and allied troops 
at Waterloo, and after a long and bloody conflict, 
he suffered a memorable defeat, June 18th, 1815. 

Q. What was the consequence of this success ? 

A The allies once more entered France and re- 
stored Louis XVIII. Bonaparte delivered him- 
self up to the English, but it was determined by 
the allied powers that he should be sent to St. 
Helena, where he remained a prisoner until his 
death, May 5th, 1821. . 

Q. What events distinguished the year 1816 ? 

A. On the 2d of May of this year, Prince Leo- 
pold, of Saxe Cobourg, was married to the Prin- 
cess Charlotte, of Wales ; and in August, Lord 
Exmouth was sent out with a large fleet against 
the Algerines, whom he obliged to liberate their 
European captives, and to abolish forever Chris- 
tian slavery. 

Q. What was the state of England about this time ? 

A. By the sudden change from war to peace, 
English commerce, manufactures, and agriculture 
were seriously affected, and threw multitudes out 
pf employ. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 87 

Q. Whafc were the consequences of this dis- 
tress ? 

A. The continued distress of the lower orders 
produced meetings and combinations in London 
and other large towns, which finally broke out 
into seditious outrages. 

Q. What step was taken to stop these disor- 
ders? 

A. Parliament passed a bill for the suspension 
of the Habeas Corpus Act, and some of the most 
active leaders were taken and executed, while 
others, after having been imprisoned for a con- 
siderable time, were released on the repeal of the 
Suspension Bill. 

Q. What calamitous event happened in 1817 ? 

A. On the 6th of November, the Princess Char- 
lotte, of Wales, died in the 22d year of her 
age. 

Q. What was the public feeling on this occa- 
sion? 

A. Her piety, her abilities, her love for her 
country, and her benevolent and virtuous cha- 
racter, were the topics of general praise ; her un- 
timely fate was bewailed as a public calamity; 
and the day of her funeral was observed in every 
part of the empire as one of general grief and 
humiliation. 

Q. What marriages took place ? 

A. The Dukes of Clarence, Kent, and Cam- 
bridge were united to German princesses; and 
the Princess Elizabeth was married to the Prince 
of Hesse Hombourg. 



m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Q. What were the domestic occurrences of the 
year 1818 ? 

A. The year 1818 was distinguished by a gene- 
ral election, and the death of Queen Charlotte, 
who died at Kew, on the 17th of November, in 
the 75th year of her age. 

Q. What were the political events of this year ? 

A. A meeting of the allied sovereigns was held 
at Aix-la-Chapelle, and it was agreed that in con- 
sequence of the tranquil state of the French na- 
tion, the troops that had been left in France 
should be recalled; accounts were also received 
from India that the war there had been brought 
to a successful issue. 

T. Describe the most remarkable events of 1819. 

JP. On the 16th of August, the inhabitants of 
Manchester and its neighborhood, assembled to 
the number of 60,000 persons, headed by Mr. 
Hunt, a notorious orator at other assemblies ; but 
the proceedings were hardly commenced when the 
leaders were arrested, and the yeomanry cavalry 
being ordered to disperse the people, several lives 
were lost and many persons were severely wounded. 

Q. What measures were taken to prevent the 
recurrence of similar tumults? 

A. Several acts of parliament were passed, to 
prevent tumultuous meetings; Mr. Hunt and 
others were tried and sentenced to imprisonment; 
and Sir F. Burdett having written a letter to the 
inhabitants of Westminster, reflecting in severe 
terms on the conduct of ministers, was also tried, 
and the letter declared to be a libel. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 89 

Q. What important events distinguished the 
commencement of 1820 ? 

A. About the middle of January, his royal 
highness Edward, Duke of Kent, died of a violent 
cold ; and on the 29 th of the same month, died 
George III., in the 82d year of his age, and the 
60th of his reign, the longest and most glorious 
in the annals of Britain. 



CHAPTER IV. 

George the Fourth. 



Q. When was George IV. proclaimed ? 

A. George, Prince of Wales, Regent of the 
United Kingdom, was proclaimed king on Mon- 
day, the 31st of January, 1821. 

Q. What event distinguished the commence- 
ment of this reign ? 

A. On the 23d of February, a conspiracy was 
formed, by a number of obscure and wretched 
individuals, for the purpose of assassinating his 
majesty's ministers ; but being discovered, they 
were tried and found guilty of high-treason, and 
Thistle wood with four others suffered death. 

Q. What are the circumstances connected with 
the trial of the queen ? 

A. The queen, while Princess of Wales, had 
separated from her husband, and had retired to 
the continent, where reports were circulated dero- 



90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

gatory to her honor; so that, on her return to 
England, ministers thought it expedient to insti- 
tute proceedings, tending to degrade and divorce 
her majesty. 

Q. What was the result of the trial ? 

A. A Bill of Pains and Penalties was brought 
into the House of Lords, which, after the evidence 
had been heard on both sides, was, on the smallness of 
the majority, on a third reading, finally withdrawn. 

Q. What were the other most remarkable events 
of his reign ? 

A. During his reign the British carried on a 
successful war with India ; they also aided the 
Greeks in their struggle for independence. It 
was at this time the Catholic Relief Bill passed, 
by which the disabilities of the Roman Catholics 
of Great Britain and Ireland were removed. 

Q. When did George IV. die ? 

A. He died at Windsor, on the 26th of June, 
1830, in the 68th year of his age and the 10th 
of his.reign. 



CHAPTER V. 

William IV and Queen Victoria. 

Q. Who succeeded George IV. ? 
A. He was succeeded by the Duke of Clarence, 
his brother, under the title of William IV. 
Q. What is said of his reign ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 91 

A. His reign is not distinguished by any action 
of importance. He died after a short reign of 
6 years, A. d. 1886. 

Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 

A. WiMiam was succeeded by her present maj esty, 
Queen Victoria. 



FINIS. 



STANDARD SCHTOIa BOOKS, 

PUBLISHED BY JOHN MURPHY & CO. 

No. 178 Market. St., Baltimore. 

KEKNEY'S POPULAR SCHOOL BOOKS. 

In calling public attention to the following works by Mr. Kerney, the 
publishers deem it unnecessary to enlarge on their respective merits. The 
author's experience as a teacher for a number of years, enabled him to ac- 
quire a practical knowledge of the wants of pupils in pursuing the different 
branches of learning. The very liberal patronage extended to them, and 
the favor with which they have been received, especially by many practical 
Teachers, and their immediate introduction into several of the principal 
institutions of learning in the countiy, is the best evidence of their practi- 
cal utility. 

A liberal discount will be made from the following prices to Booksellers, 
Teachers, &c, when purchased in quantities. 

A Compendium, of Ancient and Modern History, with Questions, 
adapted to the use of Schools and Academies, also an Appendix, con- 
taining the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United 
States, a Biographical Sketch of Eminent Personages, with a Chronologi- 
cal Table of Remarkable Events, Discoveries, Improvements, etc., from 
the Creation to the year 1850. By M. J. Kerney, A. M. Tenth Edition, 
carefully revised and corrected by the author. . . . 12mo, hf. arabesque 75 

The First Class Book of History, designed for pupils commencing the 
Study of History ; with Questions, adapted to the use of Academies and 

Schools. By M. J. Kerney, A. M. Eighth revised edition 25 

At the earnest request of many who used the author's Compendium of Ancient 
and Modern History, he compiled the above work. It is chiefly designed for pu- 
pils about to enter upon a course of historical study. In the arrangement of the 
work, and in the general matter of contents, the author has pursued that course 
which his long experience in teaching has pointed out "as the best to facilitate 
the progress of the pupil in acquiring a knowledge of history. 

Catechism of the Histoiy of the United States; with a Chronological 
Table of American History, from its Discovery in 1492, to the year 1854. 
Illustrated with Engravings. Revised and enlarged Edition. By M. 3. 

Kerney, A. M 24mo, paper 13 

The peculiar merits of thi3 little History are to be found in the accuracy of its 
details, and in the adaptation of its style and arrangement to the capacity of 
that class of learners for which it was designed. The favor with it has been re- 
ceived, and its extensive circulation, are the best comments on its merits— ten 
thousand copies having been disposed of within two years. The present edition 
has been carefully revised and enlarged ; and in order to render the work more 
attractive, a number of appropriate and instructive engravings have been in- 
troduced. These improvements add much to its merits, and render it far supe- 
rior to any work of the kind now before the public. 

A Catechism of Scripture History, compiled by the Sisters of Mercy 
for the use of the children attending their schools. Revised and corrected 
by M. J. Kerney, A. M. First American, from the last London Edition. 

(Just published.) 18mo, hf. cloth 50 

" Of the merits of the book itself, it would be superfluous to speak, but we may 

observe that the labors of the American editor have added very considerably to 

its value."— Metropolitan. _ 

f£jp The foregoing works, which form a complete series of School Histories, 

the publishers are happy to state, have met with very liberal patronage. 



Standard School Books, published by Murphy & Co. 

An Abridgment of Murray's Grammar and Exercises, designed for 
the use of Academies and Schools ; with an Appendix, containing Rules 
for Writing with Perspicuity and Accurac}', also a Treatise on Epistolary 

Composition, by M. J. Kerney, A. M 15 

This Grammar is used in the Public Schools of Baltimore, and several of the 

principal schools in the South and West. 

The Columbian Arithmetic, designed for the use of Academies and 
Schools. By M. J. Kerney, A. M. Fourth improved edition, 38 

Introduction to the Columbian Arithmetic, designed for the use of 
Academies and Schools. By M. J. Kerney, A. Mi Fourth edition ... 13 

Elementary Algebra. By B. Sestini, S. X, Professor of Natural Phi- 
losophy and Astronomy in Georgetown College 12mo. 50 

" This work recommends itself to favor by the admirable order of its parts, and 
the conciseness and clearness with which its principles are expounded. One 
needs but open the book to perceive that the author has brought to the execution 
of his task a ripened judgment and well-tried experience. He is not a compiler 
—his work has the rare merit of originality, and every student of Algebra will 
thank him for having given in a few pages what has usually occupied a large 
volume, and for having rendered intelligible what has often proved an enigma to 
many." — Metropolitan. 

FREDET'S UNIVERSAL HISTORIES, &c. 

The distinguished and wide-spread reputation of the Author as an Historian 
and Professor of History in St. Mary's College for the last twenty years; — the 
universal favor with which these works have been received, and their immediate 
introduction into many of the principal Literary Institutions in the United 
States, precludes the neeessit3 T of giving any of the numerous complimentary 
and nattering testimonials that have been so freely extended to them, both in 
this country, and in England, where they are extensively used. 

CCJ 1 Prof. Fredet's Histories have been adopted as Text Books in the Irish 
University. 

Ancient History: from the dispersion of the Sons of Noe, to the 
Battle of Actium, and the change of the Roman Republic into an Em- 
pire. By Peter Fredet, D. D., Professor of History in St. Mary's 
College, Baltimore. Fourth edition, carefully revised and enlarged. 

12mo ' 88 

Ifodern History : from the coming of Christ, and the change of the 
Roman Republic into an Empire, to the year of our Lord, 1854. By 
Peter Fredet, D. !>., Professor of History in St. Mary's College, Bal- 
timore. Tenth enlarged and improved edition 12mo. 8S 

Lingard's History of England, abridged for the use of Schools ; with 

a Continuation up to the" Present Time. (In press.) 12mo. 

Mc Sherry's History of Maryland, with Questions, &c ?5 

This work is used in the Public Schools of Baltimore, and is strongly recom- 
mended by the Commissioners. 

Murray's English Grammar, adapted to the different classes of learn- 
ers, with the Appendix 12mo, half bound 2$ 

A new and complete edition, carefully revised, — the cheapest published. 
Murray's English Grammar, abridged for the use of beginners ... 13 

Murray's English Reader 18mo. 25 

ABC und Buchstabir und Lesebuch 13 

Katholischer Katechismns \b 

Biblische Geschichte des Alien und JVeuen Testamentes 2§ 

2 



Standard School Books, published by Murphy & Co. 

IRVING'S SERIES OF SCHOOL CATECHISMS, 

IN TWELVE PARTS. 

Revised by M. J. 'Kerney, A. M. 

The long-established reputation of Irving's Catechisms, and the very 
extensive circulation which they had, not only in England, but also in this 
country, is the best proof of their utility. The plan of his works is the 
very best that could be adopted. The catechetical form of instruction is 
now admitted by the most experienced teachers, to be the best adapted to 
the nature and capacity of youth ; — a system by which children will ac- 
quire a knowledge of a science in less time than by any other. 
Astronomy : containing the Motions, Magnitude, Periods, Distances, 
and other Phenomena of the Heavenly Bodies, founded on the laws of 

Gravitation. With engraved Illustrations 13 

Botany : containing a Description of the most familiar and interest- 
ing Plants, arranged according to the Linnfean System, with an Appen- 
dix on the formation of an Herbarium. With engraved Illustrations 13 
Practical Chemistry : being a Familiar Introduction to that interest- 
ing Science — with an Appendix, containing many safe, easy, and pleas- 
ing Experiments. With engraved Illustrations 13 

Mythology : being a Compendious History of the Heathen Gods, God- 
desses^ and Heroes ; designed chiefly as an Introduction to the Study of 

the Ancient Classics. With engraved Illustrations 13 

Classical Biography: containing an Account of the Lives of the 
most Celebrated Characters among the Ancient Greeks and Romans. 

With engraved Illustrations 13 

History of the United States : with a Chronological Table of American 

History, from its discovery in 1492, to the year 1854 13 

Grecian History : from the Earliest Times to the Period when Greece 

became a Roman Province. With engraved Illustrations 13 

Roman Histoi-y : containing a concise Account of the most Striking 
Events, from the Foundation of the City to the Fall of the Western 

Empire. With engi*aved Illustrations 13 

History of England : containing the most Striking Events from the 

Earliest Period to the Present Time 13 

Jewish Antiquities: containing an Account of the Classes, Institu- 
tions, Rites, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, &c, of the Ancient Jews. 

With engraved Illustrations 13 

Grecian Antiquities: being an Account of the Religion, Government. 
Judicial Proceedings, Military and Naval Affairs, Dress, Food, Baths, 
Exercises, Marriages, Funerals, Coins, Weights, Measures, &c, of the 
Greeks — to which is prefixed a Description of the Cities of Athens and 

Sparta. With engraved Illustrations 13 

Roman Antiquities ; or, An Account of the Religion, Civil Govern- 
ment, Military and Naval Affairs, Games, Names, Coins, Weights and 
Measures, Dress, Food, Exercises, Baths, Domestic Employments, Mar- 
riages, Funerals, and other Customs and Ceremonies of the Roman 
People; with a Description of the Public Buildings of the City of Rome. 

With engraved Illustrations '. . 13 

Catechism of Sacred History: Abridged for the use of Shools, 
translated from the French, by a Friend of Youth : designed to accom- 
pany Irving's Series of Catechisms 13 

3 



Standard School Books, published by Murphy & Co. 
CLASSICAL BOOKS. 

In calling attention to the following Works, the Publishers deem it suffi- 
cient to state, that the present editions have been issued under the careful 
supervision of the eminent Professors of St. Mary's College, Baltimore, 
and may justly be considered the best and cheapest editions published. 

Epitome Hktorice, Sacrce Auctore, L'homond, edito Nova Prosodice, 

signes vocumque interpretation adornata , . . 30 

Fhcedri Augusti Liberti Fabularum iEsopium. Libri Quinque 30 

De Viris lllustribus Urbis Romce,, A Romulo ad Augustum, Auctore 
L'homond, in Universitate, Parisiensi Professore Enxerito 33 

Selectee Fabulai, ex Libris Metamorphoseon Pu.blii Ovidii Nasonis, 
Notis illustratae. Accedunt Qusedam ex Libris Tristium Elegise . ... 38 

Fables Choisies de la Fontaine, Nouvelle Edition 63 

Ruddiman's Rudiments of the Latin Tongue ; or a Plain and Easy 
Introduction to Latin Grammar : -wherein the principles of the language 
are methodically digested, both in the English and Latin. With useful 
Notes and Observations, explaining the terms of Grammar, and further 
improving its rules. By Tuomas Ruddiman, M. A. Thirtieth Genuine 
Edition, carefully Corrected and Improved. By William Mann, M. A., 

Classical Teacher 12mo, half arabesque 38 

Elementos de Sicologio, Elements of Pyschology 75 

Pizarro's Dialogues, Spanish and English 75 



jg®^ J. Murphy & Co. have the pleasure to announce, that in addition 
to their own list of School Books, their arrangements with the principal 
publishers are such as to receive all New Works on Education as 
soon as issued — and to keep a large stock constantly on hand, which ena- 
bles them to supply orders with the least possible delay. 

SCHOOL AND CLASSICAL BOOKS, PAPER, STATIONERY, &c. 
A large stock, comprising every variety, constantly on hand. 

FRENCH SCHOOL BOOKS.— The latest and best editions of French 
School Books, constantly on hand— or imported to order at short notice. 

jg®=* Orders are respectfully solicited — to which they pledge themselves 
to give the same careful and prompt attention as if selected in person. 

Particular attention given to the packing and shipment of orders to 
distant points. 

J. MURPHY & CO., Publishers, 178 Market Street, Baltimore. 



FA 



LUpFenS 



